A five-year-old girl saved her mother's life by calmly walking to school in her princess dress, crown and wellies to raise the alarm with teachers.
Leisha Davies, 35, had collapsed in her bedroom on January 18, having gone into septic shock following an operation for a twisted bowel.
Daughter Poppy Davies, 5, stayed by her mother's side until the morning when she decided to seek help from her teachers at Pontllanfraith Primary School in Caerphilly.
Leisha, who is still recovering from the life-threatening illness, said Poppy was her 'little hero'.
The last thing Leisha remembered before collapsing and losing consciousness was Poppy prancing around in her princess dress.
Daughter Poppy Davies, 5, stayed by her mother's side until the morning when she decided to calmly walk to school in her princess dress, crown and wellies to raise the alarm with teachers
Leisha Davies (right) had collapsed in her bedroom on January 18, having gone into septic shock following an operation for a twisted bowel
Leisha's husband Ryan was at work when she collapsed.
The young mother told the BBC: 'Poppy opened all the curtains and blinds in the house and put on all the lights to try and draw attention'.
But when help did not arrive, the five-year-old spent the whole night by her mother's side.
Leisha said: 'In the morning on the 19th, she was in her princess dress, got her wellies on and her little crown. She unlocked my front door and walked to the school gate right by my house.
'She went into the schoolroom and told the teacher: "Mummy's on the floor and I can't wake her up."'
Two of Poppy's teachers entered the family home to find Leisha on the floor.
They put her in recovery position before calling an ambulance.
Five-year-old Poppy changed into her uniform and was taken to school so she would be safe as paramedics fought to save her mother's life.
An air ambulance landed on the school grounds but Leisha required equipment to keep her alive which did not fit in the aircraft.
Leisha was taken to Grange University Hospital in nearby Cwmbran where it was discovered she was in septic shock, with one lung working at just 15 per cent capacity.
She was placed in an induced coma for three weeks.
Consultant David Hepburn said Leisha required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment and she was moved to Bristol Royal Infirmary.
Leisha said she has no memories from this time other than the vivid and scary dreams she was experiencing.
Ryan (left), Leisha (centre) and Poppy hug in the hospital following the frightening episode on January 18
That night Ryan (left) was working a night shift and the last thing Leisha (right) remembered before collapsing and losing consciousness was Poppy (centre) prancing around in her princess dress
Five-year-old Poppy put on her princess crown and wellies before unlocking the front door and walking to Pontllanfraith Primary School
Poppy (left) saved her mother (right) by telling her teacher: 'Mummy's on the floor and I can't wake her up'
Leisha said: 'I was picking up things from my mother and my husband talking to me which was making an alternative reality in my mind.'
'When I woke up (three weeks later) I couldn't move my body and I'd had a tracheostomy so I couldn't speak. My mother was stroking my hair and said "Are you all right?"'
'I nodded and they knew then I was back.
'They didn't know for three weeks whether I was brain damaged.'
It was initially believed Leisha would need both of her legs amputated around the knee but now doctors say only half of each foot will need to be removed after turning necrotic.
She has credited Poppy with saving her life, as well as the staff at Grange University Hospital who looked after her.
Leisha said: 'I was incredibly proud of her. I hadn't seen her for a month because of all this going on but when she did come and see me I absolutely broke down.
'I thought to myself she looks so grown up and I felt like I had missed out on so much. But I was thankful I was here, that my daughter had a mum and my mum had a daughter. It was really emotional.
'I always say to Poppy: "You're my hero, you saved mummy's life."'
The nurses at Grange University Hospital bought the youngster a 'little cape' for being a 'hero' and saving her mother's life.
Remembering the health workers' kindness, Leisha said: 'The staff at the Grange were absolutely phenomenal, I couldn't fault anyone.'
It was initially believed Leisha (pictured) would need both of her legs amputated around the knee but the prognosis suggests half of each foot will be amputated after turning necrotic
Leisha (left) has credited Poppy (right) with saving her life, as well as the staff at Grange University Hospital who looked after her
After undergoing surgery for a twisted bowel and returning to her job as a mental health worker, Leisha had been feeling unwell, with her legs and face starting to swell.
She said: 'I want to send out a message that if anybody feels unwell, get it sorted.
'I never thought sepsis was bad, I thought it was just an infection, but septic shock is life threatening and a lot of people don't recover from it.'
What are the key symptoms of sepsis? The 'silent killer' that can cause death in minutes
Sepsis, known as the ‘silent killer’, strikes when an infection such as blood poisoning sparks a violent immune response in which the body attacks its own organs.
It is a potentially life-threatening condition, triggered by an infection or injury.Around 245,000 people develop sepsis in the UK each year and 52,000 die, according to the UK Sepsis Trust.
Instead of attacking the invading bug, the body turns on itself, shutting down vital organs.
If caught early enough, it's easily treated with intravenous antibiotics and fluids, but these must be given as soon as sepsis is suspected - it strikes with frightening speed and, for every hour of delay, a patient's chance of dying increases 8 per cent.
Sepsis is a leading cause of avoidable death killing 44,000 people each year
The early symptoms of sepsis can be easily confused with more mild conditions, meaning it can be difficult to diagnose.
A high temperature (fever), chills and shivering, a fast heartbeat and rapid breathing are also indicators.
A patient can rapidly deteriorate if sepsis is missed early on, so quick diagnosis and treatment is vital – yet this rarely happens.
In the early stages, sepsis can be mistaken for a chest infection, flu or upset stomach.
It is most common and dangerous in older adults, pregnant women, children younger than one, people with chronic conditions or those who have weakened immune systems.
The six signs of something potentially deadly can be identified by the acronym 'SEPSIS':
- Slurred speech or confusion
- Extreme shivering or muscle pain
- Passing no urine in a day
- Severe breathlessness
- Skin that's mottled or discoloured
Anyone who develops any of these symptoms should seek medical help urgently — and ask doctors: 'Could this be sepsis?'
