14-year-old Emily left paralysed in Edinburgh after tonsillitis symptoms

In January, 14-year-old Emily began experiencing symptoms such as a cough and loss of appetite, which her family initially attributed to tonsillitis. However, her condition rapidly deteriorated, leading to her collapse at home in Kelso. Upon being rushed to the hospital, doctors discovered that Emily was suffering from multiple infections, including double pneumonia, which severely compromised her immune system. This pneumonia triggered Guillain-Barré Syndrome, a rare condition affecting the central nervous system. Emily's health took a critical turn when she collapsed again while attempting to go to the bathroom. She was transferred to a children's hospital in Edinburgh, where she went into respiratory arrest. Medical staff informed her family that she was completely paralyzed and her body was shutting down, leaving them uncertain about her recovery. Emily underwent immunotherapy and plasmapheresis, a treatment aimed at reducing inflammation in her nervous system. After several days of treatment, Emily began to show signs of improvement, with slight movements observed on day nine. Despite being unable to speak or move, she communicated through eye movements. Remarkably, she spent 149 days in the hospital, far less than the initially estimated year-long stay. During this time, her family received support from the Ronald McDonald House, which provided them with accommodation and care. Emily's family is now fundraising to support the critical care unit and to sponsor a room at the Ronald McDonald House for another family in need, highlighting the importance of community support during challenging times.