Girl loses arms and legs with Strep A infection after seeing doctor with a fever

30 March 2023 , 10:54

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Sophie pictured after her operations (Image: GoFundMe)

A 12-year-old girl has returned home from hospital after losing all four limbs, while battling sepsis caused by Strep A.

Sophie Lanigan, 12, from Blanchardstown in Dublin, was first brought to the doctor with a high temperature on December 12 last year and was rushed to CHI Temple Street after she began to have trouble breathing.

However, she was deteriorating rapidly and was put on a ventilator in ICU. Later, Sophie's family learned that she had sepsis caused by Strep A.

She had to be transported to CHI Crumlin to be put on a stronger ventilator after she went into septic shock and her organs began to fail.

After two weeks of fighting for her life with her parents Laura and Keith by her side, Sophie was taken off the ventilator on Christmas Day. Unfortunately, she faced devastating news that the damage caused to her hands and feet were irreversible and amputation was necessary.

Baby boy has spent his life in hospital as doctors are 'scared' to discharge him

Sophie had sepsis caused by a Strep A infection (GoFundMe)

After more time in ICU battling infections, dialysis and many other complications as well as undergoing surgeries, Sophie was able to return home to her family last week.

Sophie's aunt Christina Canavan told Dublin Live that the sixth class pupil is "still smiling" but explained there is a lot of work needed to be done to the family home to make it suitable for her.

"She's waiting on a bed in (The National Rehabilitation Hospital) Dun Laoghaire. The aim of that is to get Sophie as mobile as possible for being at home. Renovations will needed be done to the house."

She was described as a 'kind and courageous' girl (GoFundMe)

Christine described Sophie as "amazing" and said she's "very determined".

"She's absolutely fantastic," she said. "When you go and see her she's still smiling. She just wants to still do everything.

"She's just amazing. After everything she's been through, she still has that smile. She's very determined to do stuff for herself after everything she's been through. "

A GoFundMe page has been started to help Sophie's family renovate their home to suit her needs (GoFundMe)

Christine added that the family are very grateful for the support their fundraiser has received over the last 24 hours.

"It's incredible what's after happening. The whole family are in shock. It's fantastic what people are doing because she's just been through so much."

A GoFundMe to raise money to support Sophie, and to help her family renovate their home to suit her needs, has already raised a whopping €65,000 through generous donations.

Emma Nevin