An Angus couple who were told their three-year-old son would die from a deadly strain of meningitis have hailed the medics who saved his life.
Doctors and nurses have described Charlie Young as “a little miracle” as he battles back to full health following his brush with death after contracting meningococcal septicaemia.
The Montrose youngster suffered multiple organ failure and was placed on a life support machine before he started to recover.
Mum Gwen Wakeling and dad Ryan Young were told Charlie would not survive when he took ill earlier this year.
When someone has meningococcal septicemia, the bacteria will enter the bloodstream and multiply, damaging the walls of the blood vessels and causing bleeding into the skin and organs.
In fatal cases, deaths can occur in as little as a few hours and Gwen said the only reason their son is still alive is down to the “completely faultless” care he received at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee and Edinburgh Sick Kids.
Gwen said: “The medical professionals don’t know why Charlie or anyone else gets meningococcal septicaemia — it could happen to anyone at any time.
“Charlie was extremely fit and healthy and is again now.
“It was as serious as it could have been.
“The medical professionals who looked after Charlie performed a miracle just by keeping him alive.
“Charlie was so sick that the care he received had to be perfect and from start to finish it was completely faultless and this is the only reason he is still alive.
“Some doctors and nurses called him a little miracle for surviving and this is true but it is also because of the incredible work of the doctors and nurses who looked after him.”
Gwen said she could not put into words what it felt like when they were told that he would not survive.
She said: “The doctors and nurses not only saved Charlie’s life but took the time to explain everything to us and allowed us to ask any questions about what was happening.
“It was only because of the compassion and care they gave us that we were able to get through that time.
“Charlie was quickly transferred to the intensive care unit at Edinburgh Sick Kids’ by an amazing retrieval team.
“Charlie had multiple organ failure so was on life support until he started to recover.
“There is one occasion that sticks in my mind when Charlie had just woken up from his induced coma after a week and the nurses stayed on later after their 12 and a half hour shift to allow me and Ryan to have our first cuddle with him.
“They went above and beyond not just for Charlie but for the whole family and we could not have got through that time without them.
“We will never be able to thank them enough and will remember them forever.”
The three-year-old spent eight weeks in hospital and still goes for check ups.
Charlie’s pals at the Little Beehive Nursery in Montrose sent him a poster while he was in hospital to keep his spirits up and took part in a sponsored walk to help the family.
The £520 raised is being given to the two hospitals that saved his life and Gwen said the family are grateful to the nursery for everything they have done.
