Tributes have flooded in for a schoolgirl who died suddenly.
Lauren Menzie went from watching TV and drinking Lucozade on the couch to fighting for her life less than 12 hours later. The 13-year-old had been taken to Alder Hey Children's Hospital days before after suffering with severe flu symptoms.
This then turned to sepsis and Lauren died in hospital six days later. Her parents, Chris and Sarah Menzies, said the "typical cheeky, beautiful and healthy" schoolgirl had been her usual self just hours before.
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Since publishing the story, hundreds of tributes have been paid to Lauren and messages of condolences to her family.
Writing on the Liverpool ECHO Facebook page, Bernadette Corrigan said: "So sorry to hear your dreadful, sad news. Condolences to all the family and friends. Rest in peace beautiful Lauren, amen."
Brenda Currie added: "So sorry for your tragic loss, such a beautiful young girl." Sylvia Jamieson also said: "So very sad, such a young lovely girl taken by the horror of sepsis, my thoughts to her family."
Theresa Rogers said: "Thoughts and prayers are with her family, there are no words for anyone who has lost a child no matter what their age."
Mum Sarah said: "Our daughter, Lauren, was a typical cheeky beautiful and healthy thirteen year old girl. Then she caught the flu, which then turned to sepsis.
"One minute she was lying on the settee at home, watching Modern Family and complaining about the flavour of Lucozade she had been bought, less than 12 hours later she was fighting for her life at Alder Hey. A fight that unfortunately she was to lose, less than six days later."
LansLive reports the couple, who are from Chorley, have set up a JustGiving page for people to donate to their cause. Money is being raised for Sepsis Research FEAT, which describes the condition as a "hidden killer."
Sepsis takes the lives of approximately five people every hour in the UK. It occurs when the body’s response to an infection spirals rapidly out of control, injuring its own tissues and organs which can result in multiple organ failure and death.
Chris and Sarah said: "We want to concentrate our fundraising efforts going forward towards research into treatments for sepsis. That is why we have decided to join with Sepsis Research FEAT in their fundraising initiatives: to improve outcomes for those affected by sepsis."
Sepsis Research FEAT was founded in 2013 by Craig Stobo in memory of his wife, Dr Fiona Agnew, and their unborn daughter, Isla, who died from sepsis in 2012. Since then it has gained supporters across the UK and funded pioneering research including the GenOMICC study which is investigating the role genes play in determining patients’ outcomes from sepsis.
You can make a donation to Chris and Sarah’s fundraiser here.
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