Toddler dies of blood poisoning ‘triggered by chickenpox’ TWO HOURS after first symptoms
A COUPLE have spoken of their heartache after their two-year-old son died suddenly following a bout of chickenpox.
Little Oscar Schonau picked up the contagious illness in October, but appeared to be on the road to recovery - until he was struck down with sepsis.
The youngster had been staying with his grandparents when they placed him in his cot after he dozed off on the sofa on November 3.
But an hour later, they checked on him and he had turned blue.
His grandparents immediately dialled 999, but the family were told Oscar had contracted blood poisoning and that nothing could be done to save him.
Tragically, he passed away just two hours after arriving at the Royal Stoke University Hospital.
His devastated mum and dad believe the sepsis that killed their son may have been as a result of his immune system being low from the chicken pox, but are speaking out to try and warn others.
A post-mortem has been carried out but further tests will be undertaken to discover whether the seemingly harmless illness contributed to his death.
Mum Lynette, 36, from Birches Head, said: "At this stage we don't know why he got sepsis.
"It could be because his immune system was low because of the chicken pox. We have kept ourselves busy but we are very much grieving.
";The support we have had from everyone has meant so much. He was brilliant and was such a loving child who was always smiling."
Dad Rob, 33, a bus driver, added: "The night before he'd had a bit of temperature and we gave him some Calpol and he was fine.
"There were no real symptoms that anything was wrong, all we can think is his immune system was low because of the chicken pox.
"We're heartbroken."
Now, his grief-stricken family are raising money for the Donna Louise Children's Hospice in Stoke-on-Trent, where Oscar was taken following his death.
The family stayed in the hospice's 'garden room', a private suite and garden where grieving families can stay with their child in quiet contemplation before the funeral.
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There were no real symptoms that anything was wrong, all we can think is his immune system was low because of the chicken pox. We're heartbroken
Rob Schonau
Finance worker Lynette added: "We were able to have the weekend together as a family and just be with him.
"Oscar had his own cot and it gave us the time to say goodbye.
"In such tragic circumstances we felt blessed to have that opportunity. The staff at the hospice and hospital were just so supportive."
More than 300 people attended Oscar's funeral with £450 raised in donations.
Director of care at Donna Louise Children's Hospice Dot Gillespie said: "We are very humbled by the donation that Oscar's family made following his funeral.
"Saying goodbye to your child who has passed away is the hardest thing that any parent will ever do.
"The garden room is where we care for children after they have passed away.
"It's a place where families say goodbye to their child in a way and a time-frame that suits them, supported 24/7 by a skilled team of compassionate, caring staff."
WHAT IS SEPSIS?
Sepsis, also referred to as blood poisoning or septicaemia, is a potentially life-threatening condition triggered by an infection or injury.
In sepsis, the body's immune system goes into overdrive as it tries to fight an infection. This can reduce the blood supply to vital organs such as the brain, heart and kidneys. Without quick treatment, sepsis can lead to multiple organ failure and death.
Early symptoms of sepsis may include: a high temperature (fever) or low body temperature, chills and shivering, a fast heartbeat and fast breathing.
In some cases, symptoms of more severe sepsis or septic shock (when your blood pressure drops to a dangerously low level) develop soon after.
These can include: feeling dizzy or faint, a change in mental state – such as confusion or disorientation, diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting
slurred speech, severe muscle pain, severe breathlessness, less urine production than normal, clammy and pale or mottled skin
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