Sophie Countess of Wessex has written to the family of an 11-month-old baby with ‘the worst meningitis doctors have seen in 25 years’ to tell them she is ‘completely heartbroken’.
Kia Gott, from Bradford, is in a high dependency unit and recently had her fourth limb amputated.
The mother-of-two Countess, who is married to Prince Edward and patron of Meningitis Now, has personally written to Kia’s family and said: ‘I wanted to write to you after learning about your beautiful baby daughter, Kia.
‘I am completely heartbroken and devastated by Kia’s prognosis and can’t begin to imagine how you are feeling at this impossibly difficult time. I am so very sorry for what you are going through.
‘I know words are inconsequential but I felt compelled to reach out. I wish you peace, strength and hope as Kia rebuilds her strength and I send my love to your family.’
The youngster, who became ill two months ago, is facing skin grafts, hearing and sight loss, and 90 per cent brain damage all while being weaned off a drug stronger than heroin.
Sophie Countess of Wessex has written to the family of a baby battling severe meningitis
The Countess told the family of Kia Gott (pictured) she is ‘completely heartbroken’ by it all
She wishes the family ‘peace, strength and hope’ as Kia (pictured before) recovers
‘She’s a tough little cookie’
Terri Mitchell, the aunt of Kia, wrote on Facebook this week: ‘Kia has had her 4th amputation and is still fighting she’s a little sleepy after all her ops.’
Her other aunt, Donna Gott, added: ‘She’s a tough little cookie, she’s meant to be here. She looks like a little teddy bear in bed.’
The youngster first became ill two months ago when she developed a rash across her face and body, before being rushed to hospital with a collapsed lung.
Although still in hospital, Kia is off a ventilator and breathing independently.
She has also started to gain weight and has grown two teeth since being in hospital.
A brain scan reveals no further damage or infection, however, she is expected to stay in a high dependency until January.
Kia is also being weaned off the drug Fentanyl; a painkiller stronger than heroin, according to her aunt Ms Gott.
The family are having a doll made with amputated legs to help explain Kia’s condition to her four-year-old sister Elsie.
Kia Gott has had her fourth limb amputated in the ‘worst case of meningitis for 25 years’
Doctors warn the youngster may also lose her sight and hearing, and suffer brain damage
Vaccinations only eligible for those aged 12 months
Kia’s father Paul Gott, 35, a self-employed window fitter, argues the youngster only contracted the illness due to the NHS’ decision to increase the age of meningitis vaccination to 12 months last year as there were so few cases in the UK.
He has since started a petition to lower the vaccination age.
Mr Gott told ITV News: ‘It makes me feel sick that they can just stop something that could save so many lives.’
May suffer 90% brain damage
Kia first became ill when she developed a rash across her face and body two months ago.
After her lung collapsed, Kia was rushed to hospital where doctors at the Bradford Royal Infirmary, West Yorkshire, said it is the worst case of Meningitis C septicaemia, a form of the condition, they have seen in 25 years.
The doctors warned Kia’s family she may need to have further limbs removed, as well as being at risk of losing her sight and hearing, and suffering 90 per cent brain damage.
In the most recent amputation, surgeons were able to remove part of one of Kia’s legs by leaving the limb above the knee intact, Telegraph & Argus reported.
Although still in hospital, Kia is off a ventilator and is breathing independently.
The family has set up a JustGiving fundraising page to raise money for adaptations to their home.
Kia’s aunt says she is sleepy but fighting in hospital (before her illness with sister Elsie, four)
Kia developed a rash across her body two months ago (before with her brother Kayden, eight)
Kia’s father blames the NHS for not allowing babies under 12 months to be vaccinated
Although still in hospital, Kia is off a ventilator and is managing to breathe independently
How was the illness caused?
The NHS stopped giving the MenC vaccine to 12-week-old babies in July 2016 due to there being so few cases of the disease in infants and young children in the UK.
Babaies still receive the vaccination for MenB, protecting against meningococcal group B bacteria, which are responsible for more than 90 per cent of such infections in children at 8 weeks, 16 weeks and one year old.
Meningitis C septicaemia is caused by bacteria that lives in the back of throats of one in 10 people; normally doing no harm.
Yet, if it enters the blood system, the bacteria can trigger a potentially life-threatening infection.
The symptoms of bacterial meningitis in young children, which can kill in hours, include fever, vomiting, headaches and joint or muscle pain.
Parents are also advised to look out for cold hands, shivering, pale or mottled skin, a rash anywhere on the body, and a child who is sleepy, vacant or delirious.