The sound any parent dreads – their little one screaming from their bed while becoming dangerously ill. That’s the nightmarish sound Holly and Paul Mckie coming from their three-year-old daughter’s room one night in 2021.
The youngster, Sophia, was discovered by her parents while having a terrifying seizure, and she had stopped breathing. The toddler was rushed to Wythenshawe Hospital but her condition worsened, suffering 20 more seizures within 24 hours.
She was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), requiring full ventilation to keep her alive. Doctors found that Sophie was suffering from encephalitis, a disease which causes inflammation of the brain – as a result of a slew of viruses, including Covid-19, which were found in her system.
Now, the family are sharing an important warning after their young daughter’s terrifying ordeal. They want to raise awareness of the dangers of encephalitis, the disease that almost stole away their little girl.
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Mum-of-two Holly, 30, said: “Sophia had been unwell with a virus, which had struck the whole family, but on the night of 3 December 2021, she suddenly deteriorated. She screamed from her bed and when we went to check her, she was seizing and stopped breathing. We called an ambulance, and she was rushed to Wythenshawe Hospital.”
Dad Paul, 38, added: “They didn’t have a paediatrics ICU at Wythenshawe, so we were transferred to Sheffield Children’s Hospital. It wasn’t our nearest specialist unit, but we were still in the thick of the pandemic and there were no beds available in Manchester or Liverpool.”
Doctors discovered Sophia had enterovirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and Covid-19. It’s thought the encephalitis may have been caused by one of these viruses.
According to the NHS, encephalitis is an ‘uncommon but serious condition in which the brain becomes inflamed (swollen)’. It can cause brain damage and long-term problems including memory loss, swallowing issues, and personality changes.
Holly continued: “The doctors told us the condition was life-threatening and that Sophia may not even survive the night.”
In the days of doctors desperately trying to keep Sophia alive, the little girl suffered brain damage as a result of the vicious illness. Paul said: “When she was taken off the ventilator after a couple of days, it soon became clear that she was brain damaged.
“She barely opened her eyes. She couldn’t see, hear, talk, walk, or feed herself. She didn’t recognise any of us, including her twin sister, Alyssa.
“She was often agitated and difficult to settle. Specialists were brought in, as Sophia’s case was so severe.”
Sophia was in Sheffield Children’s Hospital for three weeks before being transferred to Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital (RMCH) where her intensive rehabilitation began.
After two weeks at RMCH, Sophia was up on her feet again and her sight and hearing gradually began to return. It would be another few days before she started to speak, babbling at first, using words like: ‘Dada’ and ‘Mama’.
Eventually, on March 3 2022, Sophia was well enough to go home, but still lives with ongoing health issues associated with her brain injury.
Holly said: “The doctors couldn’t believe how determined she was, defying the odds to rehabilitate much quicker than they expected. She’s shown so much resilience.
“She’s now five; a true survivor who goes from strength to strength. I’m now passionate about raising awareness of her condition.
“I’m also determined to shine a light on the brilliant work of Ronald McDonald House Charities UK, without whom our journey would have been much more difficult. We can’t thank them, and the Child Brain Injury Trust, enough.”
In Manchester, the family received support from Ronald McDonald House Charities UK, a charity providing free ‘home away from home’ accommodation and support for families with children in hospital. It played a vital role for the family in their darkest hours.
Holly said: “We found out about Ronald McDonald House Manchester when Sophia was admitted to Ward 78 at RMCH, and staff referred us for a room there. When we first entered the House, we felt a sense of peace.
“It was a lovely, homely environment where we could spend time together, whilst we were away from our actual home.”
Holly and Paul continued to juggle family life looking after Alyssa at home and Sophia in hospital, where Covid restrictions meant only one parent could be with her on the ward at a time. Holly added: “Staying in the house had such a positive impact on our family, allowing us to be close to Sophia, and Alyssa was finally able to visit her twin in a non-medical environment, where there were no scary, beeping machines.
“It also aided Sophia’s recovery, due to us being well rested and therefore able to give her our full care and attention when she needed us. We had extended family visit her at the House, which helped her to start recognising relatives again, and made the whole rehabilitation process less stressful.”
Ronald McDonald House Charities UK is an independent Charity, which operates 14 Houses across England, Wales, and Scotland. They provide a place to sleep, cook and retain some sense of normal life; a lifeline for families at a very stressful time, especially when they are far from home.
A Ronald McDonald House saves each family an average of £1,240 in out-of-pocket accommodation expenses. The 65-bedroom Ronald McDonald House Manchester, which opened in 2012, provides free accommodation to the families of children being treated at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and St Mary’s Neonatal Unit. Last year, the House accommodated 503 families who stayed for an average of 37 nights.
Ronald McDonald House Manchester Manager Sally Cannon said: “It was our privilege to support Sophia’s family during what must have been one of the hardest times of their lives. We’re here for families 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, providing a free ‘home away from home’ to help take away some of their stress and anxiety in their time of need.
“We’re so pleased to hear how well Sophia is doing and wish her all the best, as she continues to recover from this awful disease.”
To find out more about Ronald McDonald House Charities UK, visit: www.rmhc.org.uk.
For information about child brain injury, go to: www.childbraininjurytrust.org.uk and for information about encephalitis, visit: www.encephalitis.info.
Sarah Carter is a health and wellness expert residing in the UK. With a background in healthcare, she offers evidence-based advice on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, promoting healthier living for readers.
