A friend has issued a plea to help the family of a little girl battling kidney failure after she caught a deadly strain of E. coli on holiday.
Harper, a toddler from Haverhill, suffered acute kidney failure, peritonitis and seizures after eating contaminated food in August.
For the past two months Harper has endured continuous dialysis and gone through three operations, three blood transfusions, and many injections after developing complications known as Haemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS).
On Thursday (September 20) her family was dealt another devastating blow when they were told by doctors she has stage five kidney failure.
This means Harper desperately needs a kidney transplant.
A family friend set up a fundraiser earlier this year to help the family cope with the financial strain of her prolonged hospital stay, but what they really need now is people to come forward to be tested to see if they can provide a match for her.
Writing on a GoFundMe page, family friend Sarah Egan said: "Yesterday we received the devastating news that Harper is suffering from stage five kidney failure, this is a direct result of HUS.
"This means that she has been placed on the kidney transplant waiting list.
"[She] will be having an operation to reinsert a peritoneal dialysis catheter which will be her lifeline until a suitable match is found for her.
"Many people have already come forward offering to be tested to see if they're a match, so hopefully we will be successful in finding a living donor."
Inspiring people
Fundraising for Harper
Her self-employed parents, Melissa and Dean, have had to drop everything to support their youngest child who is being treated at Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham, and the cost of petrol money, parking fees and hotel stays are mounting up.
While mum stays by Harper's side, dad Dean has been looking after their three other children, making it harder for them to bring in a steady income.
Sarah said: "She is being taken care of in specialist children’s kidney unit 120 miles from home for weeks now and continues to fight on despite the fear and uncertainty she faces.
"We are looking to provide a little financial support for this hardworking, self employed family during a time of desperate uncertainty in the health condition of their youngest child.
"Little Harper’s parents are both extremely hard working self employed people. With the stress of being so far from home, on top of worrying about their baby girl, money is the last thing they should have to be thinking about.
"As a family they are very strong and would never ask for help but they deserve a big show of support to keep them going down, what seems is going to be, a very long road."
So far more than 100 people have answered the call raising over £2,600 for Harper's family.
Many of those who have donated have left well wishes for the family.
Mum Jo Price wrote: "Being self employed and having two little girls I can't even imagine how hard this is for you all. I really hope you get the kidney she so deserves."
While another mum Stacey Davis told the family her little girl had also contracted HUS.
She said: "My thoughts are with you all. My daughter caught E. coli seven years ago last week, and it also developed into HUS.
"We are lucky - she is a success story as, like you, as soon as there was blood in her urine, we went straight to Poole Hospital, where they did both blood and platelet transfusions.
"We avoided the dialysis by just hours. She is now a happy, healthy 11-year-old. Sending you so much strength to deal with this awful time."
Sarah told Cambridgeshire Live Harper's family are still coming to terms with the seriousness of her condition.
What is HUS?
The NHS say HUS is a serious complication caused when bacteria produce a toxic substance called verocytotoxin.
This can affect the blood, kidneys and, in some cases, the nervous system. It requires hospital treatment and, although most people make a full recovery, it can be fatal.
In rare cases it can result from eating food contaminated with E. coli, a type of bacteria that causes food poisoning and is normally spread through traces of animal waste.
There are different strains of E. coli, and some are more toxic than others.
Who is at risk?
Children who are more likely to develop haemolytic uremic syndrome include those who:
- are younger than age 5
- have a weakened immune system
- have a family history of inherited hemolytic uremic syndrome
What are the signs and symptoms of HUS in children?
A child with haemolytic uraemic syndrome may develop signs and symptoms similar to those seen with gastroenteritis - an inflammation of the lining of the stomach, small intestine, and large intestine such as:
- vomiting
- bloody diarrhea
- abdominal pain
- fever and chills
- headache
As the infection progresses, the toxins released in the intestine begin to destroy red blood cells. When the red blood cells are destroyed, the child may experience the signs and symptoms of anemia - a condition in which red blood cells are fewer or smaller than normal, which prevents the body's cells from getting enough oxygen.
Signs and symptoms of anemia may include:
- fatigue, or feeling tired
- weakness
- fainting
- paleness
