A woman who showed cold and flu symptoms died within weeks - after she developed sepsis and Strep A. Bethannie Booth started feeling ill at the start of March - but initially it did not seem too serious.
However she began to deteriorate quickly and the 24-year-old from Wales was taken to Royal Glamorgan Hospital after struggling to breathe. Her condition had become grave and after arriving she was taken to intensive care.
The primary school worker suffered a collapsed lung due to the Strep A infection and died on the last day of March, WalesOnline reports. Her dad Wayne said: “I have only one way I can explain Beth – imagine the best female has got the biggest angel wings, who would do anything for anyone, from a man living on the streets to a man in a mansion.
Read more: Nottinghamshire NHS bosses warn of major disruption as junior doctors strike
"She was so loved – the children [in her school] loved her, our grandchildren loved her. She had that wicked streak – we called her the weekend offender. She was professional from Monday to Thursday – she would go to work, be in bed by 9pm. Come Saturday then the music would be on by dinner time, there would be 20,000 girls and boy friends coming in and out of the house.
“They say the best get taken from us first – God needs his angels. It has ripped us all apart.” Wife Leanne added: “She’s a character but she’s the best friend you could ever have.”
Bethannie was the youngest of three daughters and was dearly loved by her older sisters Megan, 25 and Nia-Ffion, 27 and younger brother, Corey, 10. She was an auntie to Parker, three, Caled, four months, and Myles, nine weeks.
Initially Bethannie contacted 111 to discuss her symptoms but she was told it was likely acne as she reported having red bumps on her face. A few days later she rang again and was advised to go to hospital. When she arrived at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant she was taken straight to the ICU. She had a collapsed lung and other organs had started to shut down.
She was put in a coma before being transferred to Guy’s and St Thomas Hospital in London where she spent two and half weeks on an ecmo (extra corporeal membrane oxygenation) machine which uses an artificial lung, essentially breathing for the patient. She also underwent surgery after developing a hole in her lung.
Bethannie died surrounded by her parents and two older sisters. Her sister Megan said: “She was the life of the party – she didn’t take anything seriously. She was the most stubborn person but with the biggest heart – she was too sweet for the world. She was an absolute nuisance on a night out – she captured everything on her phone. She would give a piece of herself to everyone.”
A fundraiser has been set up to support Bethannie’s family with funeral costs at this devastating time.You can make a donation here.
Official NHS advice on sepsis:
Sepsis is life threatening. It can be hard to spot. There are lots of possible symptoms. They can be like symptoms of other conditions, including flu or a chest infection.
If you think you or someone you look after has symptoms of sepsis, call 999 or go to A&E. Trust your instincts.
Call 999 or go to A&E if:
An adult or older child has any of these symptoms of sepsis:
- acting confused, slurred speech or not making sense
- blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
- a rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
- difficulty breathing, breathlessness or breathing very fast
They may not have all these symptoms.
READ NEXT:
- Nottinghamshire Police release CCTV image after woman sexually assaulted on her way home
Teenager brandished machete in knife fight outside Nottingham College
Popular Nottingham restaurant closes after nearly 30 years of service
Heartfelt tributes pour in for Nottingham Rock City 'legend'
Jeremy Clarkson suffers sleepless nights after difficult 'goodbye' on Diddly Squat Farm
