The grief-stricken parents of a 10-year-old Irish girl, who tragically lost her life, have decided to share the harrowing details of their daughter's untimely passing with the aim of potentially preventing similar tragedies.
Vivienne Murphy, a young girl from Ireland, succumbed to her illness in March 2019, a short while after expressing discomfort due to a sore throat. Vivienne's parents, Lilly and Dermot Murphy, spoke candidly about her sudden illness on RTÉ's This Week programme.
The unfortunate series of events started unfolding around Valentine's Day when Vivienne developed a high temperature and a rash. In just a few days, her condition rapidly worsened, resulting in hospitalization. Vivienne received initial treatment at Cork University Hospital, but later had to be shifted to Temple Street in Dublin for a more detailed diagnosis.
Doctors initially speculated that Vivienne was suffering from a viral infection, but her non-responsive state to the medication and further deterioration cast doubts on this hypothesis. "We said it can't be, there must be something else, it's been going on for days," shared Lilly, expressing the couple's growing concern.
Recounting the worsening scenario, Dermot added, "We realized she was still getting worse, and the rash was really angry-looking. By the evening she had pain and we noticed that her right leg started swelling at the knee."
He explained their frantic attempts to communicate the alarming situation to the initial consulting doctor, stressing that their child's condition was aggravating.
Their heartbreaking story took a dark turn when a black mark on Vivienne's leg stunned the medical staff. After numerous tests, the Murphys were finally informed about their daughter's critical condition - she had contracted Strep A.
The black mark signaled the onset of sepsis and the dangerous condition known as necrotizing fasciitis, a deadly, rapidly-spreading bacterial infection often referred to as the "flesh-eating disease."
Following the alarming diagnosis, Vivienne had to undergo an operation that "took hours" at Temple Street hospital. Before being sedated, the brave little girl had thanked the nurse. "That was the dignity she had. They were her last words on this planet. She had so much empathy. The world is a sadder place without her," Dermot reminisced.
Post-surgery, the doctors relayed some startling news. "He said I think I have stopped the disease from spreading, but I had to cut away 17% of your daughter's body," Dermot recalled the heart-stopping moment. He expressed their initial belief that only a minor surgical procedure would have been required if they had acted earlier.
However, their ordeal took another dire turn when Vivienne suffered cardiac arrest. Dermot vividly recollected the efforts made by the medical team to resuscitate her. But their brief moment of hope was shattered when it was later announced that the cardiac arrest had inflicted severe damage, ultimately leading to her death.
In the wake of their devastating loss, the Murphys issued some poignant advice to all parents. "If your child has a fever, or a rash, be vigilant, these things can change so quickly. Our daughter started off with signs and symptoms and within ten days she was gone," they warned. "We are just begging and pleading that parents look out for these things, don’t be submissive, and don’t ever think that you are being an overreacting parent, because you are not."
