By Joanna Crawley For Mailonline
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13 View commentsCat Deeley had an emotional interview with a young family affected by sepsis on Thursday's This Morning.
The ITV star fought back tears as she and Ben Shephard spoke to eight-year-old William Reckless who had both his legs amputated after battling sepsis in 2020 at the age of three.
As Cat, who is a mum of two boys, spoke to William's mother Gemma about the terrifying moment doctor's told the family about the diagnosis, the presenter fought to compose herself.
Gemma explained: 'The doctors asked me "do you understand what's happening?" and I said "he's got meningitis hasn't he?" And they said "no he's got sepsis" and I just had no idea what that was.'
Cat Deeley had an emotional interview with a young family affected by sepsis on Thursday's This Morning
The ITV star fought back tears as she and Ben Shepherd spoke to eight-year-old William who had both his legs amputated after battling sepsis in 2020 at the age of three
'I just remember thinking "somebody wake me up, it's not happening". Two hours ago we were at home.'
William, who appeared on the ITV show with Gemma, his father Michael and little sister Georgia, became seriously after he developed sepsis while suffering from scarlet fever.
He almost died when his heart stopped and had to be in intensive care for three months as he battled complications, leading to his lower legs and parts of his fingers being amputated.
However, his family said throughout the months of physio the little boy never stopped smiling.
Gemma said that when he was told he would be losing his legs, he seemed to accept everything and he even woke from the amputation with a smile on his face.
He was soon telling doctors and nurses his left leg had been eaten by a crocodile and the right taken by a shark.
In March William walked further than he has ever done before to raise money for charity, walkingtwo miles using his prosthetic legs and cycling a further two miles in a hand-bike for Nottingham Hospitals Charity.
William, from Huthwaite in Nottinghamshire, raised nearly £8,000 via his JustGiving page.
As Cat spoke to his mum Gemma about the terrifying moment doctor's told the family about William's diagnosis, the presenter fought to compose herself
Gemma explained: 'The doctors asked me "do you understand what's happening?" and I said "he's got meningitis hasn't he?" And they said "no he's got sepsis"
Cat looked emotional as Gemma recalled: 'I just remember thinking "somebody wake me up, it's not happening". Two hours ago we were at home'
SIX MAJOR SIGNS OF SEPSIS
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition caused when the body releases chemicals to fight an infection.
These chemicals damage the body's own tissues and organs and can lead to shock, organ failure and death.
Organ failure and death are more likely if sepsis is not recognized early and treated immediately.
Sepsis infects an estimated 55,000 Australians each year, killing between 5,000 and 9,000 making it more than four times deadlier than the road toll.
The symptoms can look like gastro or flu and can become deadly, rapidly.
The six major signs of something potentially deadly can be identified by the acronym 'SEPSIS':
- Slurred speech or confusion, lethargy, disorientation
- Extreme shivering or muscle pain, fever or low temperature
- Pressing a rash doesn't make it fade
- Severe breathlessness, rapid breathing
- Inability to pass urine for several hours
- Skin that's mottled or discoloured
Children may also show convulsions or fits, and a rash that doesn't fade when you press it - and more than 40 per cent of cases occur in children under five.
Anyone who develops these symptoms should seek medical help urgently — and ask doctors: 'Could this be sepsis?'
Sepsis is a leading cause of avoidable death killing about 10,000 Australians each year
The early symptoms of sepsis can be easily confused with more mild conditions, making it difficult to diagnose.
A high temperature (fever), chills and shivering, a fast heartbeat and rapid breathing are also indicators.
A patient can rapidly deteriorate if sepsis is missed early on, so quick diagnosis and treatment is vital – yet this rarely happens.
In the early stages, sepsis can be mistaken for a chest infection, flu or upset stomach.
It is most common and dangerous in older adults, pregnant women, children younger than one, people with chronic conditions or those who have weakened immune systems.
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