Testimonies

Our 4 year old daughter fell ill with E.coli O157 on the 13th October 2006 and was admitted to Edinburgh Sick Kids. It developed into HUS and our world seemed to fall apart. Decisions were made for us and we were transferred to Yorkhill in Glasgow where she was put on dialysis within 12 hours. No-one seemed to be able to tell us how it happened but only that this really was life or death.

Our daughter was in hospital for eight weeks. Ten days after she got out my son took ill and he too had E.coli O157 which developed into HUS - and we then went through the same thing all over again. Everyone kept saying how unlucky we were for this to happen but no-one could shed any light on where it came from. On top of all this we had to contend with visits from environmental and public health, wanting to know all kinds of information. Family, friends, nurseries and school being checked as well as our house - I felt so unclean and responsible for my kids illness.

Edinburgh Sick Kids were great and their quick response probably saved my daughter's life. Yorkhill were also great and knew exactly what to do and how to treat the children.

The kids are getting better but are still on medication and have the usual checkups.

My problem is people keep telling me that I need to come to terms with what happened. Part of me feels I have, as I am lucky to still have my kids and they are getting better, but part of me feels scared at how serious things were.

HUSH took the time to listen, when we really needed someone who understood what we were going through. Their kindness and patience kept us from feeling isolated and out of control. This website is a very valuable lifeline during a time when you have no control and most times no idea of what is going on.