A young mother is advising fellow parents to trust their instincts after medical professionals repeatedly misdiagnosed her baby’s serious ailment as a chest infection on 15 occasions.
Ellie Stimson, 21, persisted after doctors at both her GP’s office and a hospital sent her and her daughter, Isla-Rae Burton, back home over a period of about eight months. Eventually, when the infant was rushed to the hospital by ambulance, it was revealed that she had a collapsed lung, leading to a six-hour stay on life support.
At 11 months old, Isla-Rae now requires major surgery for the collapsed lung and the rare Congenital Pulmonary Airway Malformation (CPAM), a condition where lung cysts develop in the womb. This CPAM diagnosis came after the ambulance incident at eight months. Without surgery, about three out of 100 individuals with CPAM may experience severe complications like lung cancer and heart failure, according to the Asthma + Lung UK charity.
Speaking from their home in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, Ellie expressed her dismay, stating, “They said it could have been life-threatening, and research shows it is not survivable if left untreated.”
Ellie and her partner, Keiron Burton, 23, grew concerned when Isla-Rae showed persistent wheezing, breathing difficulties, and mucus coughing following her birth in February of the previous year.
Allegedly, doctors reassured the couple that Isla-Rae would outgrow her symptoms as she appeared happy. Despite visiting a GP seven times and Royal Stoke University Hospital eight times, they were repeatedly told it was a chest infection and discharged.
Ellie, who had to leave her job to care for Isla-Rae full-time, finally received a breakthrough diagnosis in October, which has been unsettling for the family. Only one in 10,000 babies are born with CPAM, as per Asthma + Lung UK.
Expressing disappointment and anger at the delayed diagnosis, Ellie said, “We knew it was something else… Normally the surgery is done immediately so they’re not left struggling to breathe like this.”
An alleged scan in May of the previous year reportedly showed shadows, indicating the collapsed lung, but the issue went unnoticed by medical personnel until later in the year.
Royal Stoke University Hospital stated that they are in contact with the family to thoroughly investigate their complaint. Isla-Rae’s necessary surgery will take place at a specialized center in Birmingham Children’s Hospital, but she is currently on a waiting list. Ellie and Keiron are caring for her full-time, with Keiron also out of work, prompting the family to launch a GoFundMe campaign to cover living expenses.
Ann-Marie Riley, chief nurse at Royal Stoke University Hospital, assured, “We take all concerns seriously and have a process in place to investigate and address them. We are working with Isla-Rae’s family regarding their complaint.”
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