'We could only sit at watch as our baby girl battled for her life against meningitis'
WAVING chubby pink fists and giggling on mum's knee, baby Saskia seems like every other little girl.
But the smiles hide the lasting effects of a three-month battle Saskia Spittles-Longdon has fought against meningococcal meningitis – a potential killer.
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Saskia with dad Jason Longdon.
The devastating illness has left the 11-month-old, of Wragby, near Lincoln, with the lower half of her right leg amputated, and missing her fingers on her right hand after developing septicaemia.
The horror started when mum Sarah Spittles noticed a small rash on her daughter's tummy on February 27.
Within one hour, little Saskia's entire body was covered with the rash.
She lost consciousness and was on her way to intensive care.
Miss Spittles was told her little girl had meningitis.
Miss Spittles, who lives with Saskia's dad, Jason Longdon, said it was a "nightmare" ordeal.
"There were two days at the start when we didn't know if she'd survive," said Miss Spittles, who will now be a full-time carer to Saskia as she learns to live with her disability.
"We went from having a perfectly happy and healthy baby girl, to a little baby who might die in a matter of hours.
"As soon as I noticed the rash, my instinct said this was going to be bad and meningitis came into my head.
"The doctors told me later if they had got to her even an hour or so later, she wouldn't have survived.
"I still get very emotional when I think about what could have happened."
The rash – a typical symptom of meningitis – was first noticed at 12pm. Other symptoms included an odd cry and a grey tinge to her skin.
Within 11 hours, Saskia had been transferred to three different hospitals, ending up in Leeds General Infirmary, where specialist teams raced to stop the infection from spreading.
She spent a further three months in hospital, hooked up to machines and undergoing surgery.
Dad Jason said: "The three months was such an horrific ordeal for us as parents because we felt so helpless and could only sit and watch our little girl battle for her life.
"Her whole body swelled up and her leg and fingers went black and crispy looking.
"When they said they had to take the leg and fingers, it was tragic. Thank God, she has not developed any brain damage as a result."
The disease can affect anyone of any age, but mainly affects babies and young children.
3 Comments
by lynn, lincoln
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 4:47PM
“What a beautiful little girl, her parents must be very proud of their little fighter!”
by yvonne, lincoln
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 10:50AM
“we know the spittle family and my husband has been very close friend to grandad mally for many year's ,he and mally go back befor they were maried,so knew Sarah when she was born, and when mally rang us to tell us about Saskia all we could do is cry ,as our grandson Mitchel was born the same day as Saskia ,and we had been though it with one of our grandaughter's who is now 14,but at the time she was 1 week of being one and it is very scary to be told they have meningitis thank god we were one of the lucky once ,thank you Mally for all the phone calls to keep us up to date with Saskiaand our love is with you all,All we could do is to offer any help we could do for all the family ,and Sasah your a mum in a MILLON you never left your little girl's bed side bless you our love is with you all LIGGY AND YVONNE XXXXX”
by yvonne licence, lincoln
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 10:37AM
“we are very close friend's to the Spittle family and when mally her grandad rand to tell us all we could do is cry ,we have a grandson born the same day as Saskia and all we could do is look at him and think of what Saskia must be going though and the family ,all we could say is that if you ever need anything we are here for you and gave them all our love,what more could you say,thank you Mally for all the phone calls to let us know how your very darling little grandaughter was ,i look at my grandson moo moo and thank god he is ok,we have had one grandaughter that got it a week befor her first birthday and thank god she is ok they got her in time she is 14 now”