A mother has praised the “unsung heroes” of Queen’s Hospital and local GP after they saved her nine-year-old daughter’s life following a “life-threatening” diabetic attack.
Angela Holmes, 48, of Lodge Avenue, Romford, said: “If the GP didn’t spot what was wrong with her she could’ve gone into a coma and died from it.”
She had noticed her daughter Lizzie not acting herself and drinking a lot of fluids but became very concerned when she went “dramatically downhill” and could barely walk or talk.
She took Lizzie to an emergency GP appointment at Western Road Medical Centre, Western Road, Romford, where the doctor quickly became concerned, put her on oxygen and called for an ambulance.
“The doctor wasn’t sure at first what was wrong but knew my adorable Lizzie was very, very poorly. She did a finger prick test which showed that Lizzie was in the acute stages of ketoacidosis [a complication of diabetes],” said Mrs Holmes.
A team of four at Queen’s Hospital then gave Lizzie “superb” treatment after she was rushed there.
“They [nurses] stayed with her for the whole of their shifts and wouldn’t allow her to leave as she was to poorly to be moved. They instead arranged for a nurse to come from King George’s to give her one-to-one care,” said Mrs Holmes.
It was then that the girl was diagnosed with type one diabetes – a disease where the immune system destroys the insulin-producing cells leading to the body being unable to control its sugar levels.
Mrs Holmes said: “Everybody was just fantastic - the care we got was amazing.”
Lizzie, who goes to Gidea Park Primary School, Lodge Avenue, Romford, was then given specialise care to reintegrate her into normal school life.
Mrs Holmes said: “Really we are so very lucky to have people who absolutely, unconditionally care for us. These are unsung heroes that deserve so much more than I could ever give them but they have collectively given me something more precious than anything and that’s saving my daughters life.”
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