A 10-year-old girl has been named a “Little fighter” after tragically losing both legs and her right arm after a fierce battle with a deadly disease and severe complications. Penelope Vidal-Walsh, from Southport, was urgently taken to Alder Hey hospital when she complained of feeling unwell to her parents.
On the evening of April 10, Penelope went to bed as usual but found herself sedated and in intensive care the following day, having woken up with a “bruise many parents wouldn’t suspect as unusual.”
Before retiring at about 9pm, Penelope had mentioned to her parents that she felt sick. She then woke at roughly 2am and was sick. Her father, Ricardo Vidal, bathed her and “checked her over” without spotting anything worrying, so she returned to bed.
The next morning unfolded normally with Penelope having breakfast, only to be sick again around 8.30am. It was after another bath that her dad noticed a small purple mark on her neck, reports the Liverpool Echo. Once dressed, her mum, Elizabeth, and dad saw another purple rash on her knee.
Penelope’s aunt, Angel Walsh, aged 35, recounted to the ECHO how the quick-thinking parents conducted “the glass test,” which is recommended by the NHS to check rashes, especially when meningitis or septicaemia is suspected. This involves pressing a glass against the rash to see if it fades under pressure.
A rash that doesn’t fade when pressed (a non-blanching rash) can indicate a serious infection, necessitating immediate medical intervention. When the rash persisted, they promptly took Penelope to Ormskirk Hospital and by 9.30am she had been transferred to Alder Hey, where she was diagnosed with meningitis and swiftly moved to intensive care.
The “determined” young girl has spent the past “99 days fighting and now recovering,” her dad shares. He said: “During this time she beat the meningococcal disease and also a very rare fungal infection which caused severe complications. As part of her treatment Penelope underwent a triple amputation surgery, which resulted in her losing her lower limbs and her right arm. She is currently undergoing skin grafting surgery as part of her rehabilitation and recovery. She has made huge progress and improvement and is even using a wheelchair and building up her core strength as well as the strength in her left arm.”
Ricardo stated: “It’s been a roller coaster of emotions, heartache and anxiety. But as her parents we remain forever grateful that she is still with us and for all the incredible dedication and hard work that the staff here at Alder Hey and Ormskirk Children’s A&E have done, they saved our Penelope’s life.”
For now, Penelope remains in hospital on the critical care unit at Alder Hey, as she prepares for a skin graft. However, her dad said that if the skin grafts go as planned then they expect her to be discharged around October.
The family are currently working on raising funds for Penelope’s future to ensure she has the “best possible chance of living an independent life.”
Ricardo stated: “We want to give her the best quality life and opportunities to fulfil any of her dreams and hopes that she had before this occurred. We want her to be able to not let this deter her from being the most energetic, fun, lively girl that she always has been. She remains determined and motivated to keep building her strength. The strength and resilience she shows us every day is just incredible and we are just so proud of her.”
To contribute towards Penelope’s fundraiser, her family have set up a gofundme page here. Penelope and her family aim to raise awareness about the “scary” illness and alert people to the symptoms they should be vigilant for.
According to the NHS website, parents should look out for the following symptoms:
- a high temperature
- cold hands and feet
- vomiting
- confusion
- breathing quickly
- muscle and joint pain
- pale, mottled or blotchy skin (this may be harder to see on brown or black skin)
- spots or a rash (this may be harder to see on brown or black skin)
- headache
- a stiff neck
- a dislike of bright lights
- being very sleepy or difficult to wake
- fits (seizures)
Babies may also:
- refuse feeds
- be irritable
- have a high-pitched cry
- have a stiff body or be floppy or unresponsive
- have a bulging soft spot on the top of their head
The NHS website states: Someone with meningitis or sepsis can get a lot worse very quickly. Call 999 for an ambulance or go to your nearest A&E immediately if you think you or someone you look after could have meningitis or sepsis.”
It adds: “Call NHS 111 for advice if you’re not sure if it’s anything serious. If you’ve had medical advice and are still worried or any symptoms get worse, get medical help again.”
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