It happens all the time. Children playing games that sometimes end in minor injuries. A scrape, a few tears, and occasionally a wound, but more severe cases are rare.
But for one family, something small turned into a tragedy.
After Sarah’s 8-year-old son, Liam, fell from his bike in the driveway, he fell ill and needed to be taken to the hospital.
Following the bike accident, he had sustained a deep wound in his groin, prompting Sara to realize they needed to head to the hospital.
During his fall, he had obtained a deep cut requiring seven stitches.
But Liam was a brave boy, and it wasn’t a problem. Once Liam was patched up, they could return home.
Liam was a typical boy who enjoyed playing on the farm and caring for animals.
Sarah thought the accident would be nothing out of the ordinary.
But just a few days after the incident, Liam started complaining of severe pain in the groin. When Sara and Liam’s stepfather Scott Henkle examined the wound, it was very red, almost purple in color.
They rushed Liam back to the emergency room, where doctors quickly realized his wounds were infected with a flesh-eating bacteria.
Liam underwent surgery, and attempts were made to remove the infected parts before he was flown by helicopter to a larger hospital, the Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland. There, doctors worked tirelessly to save Liam’s life.
However, the bacteria continued to spread, and doctors kept amputating infected parts of Liam.
Despite all the surgeries and interventions, Liam remained calm. He reassured his mother, saying that everything would be okay soon. The doctors continued operating on Liam, hoping that each time they had removed the flesh-eating bacteria that were making the boy’s life difficult.
Posted by Kimberly McCurry-Weathers on Tuesday, January 23, 2018
As the doctors grew increasingly desperate, Liam was transferred to another hospital, hoping that different doctors might have an idea to save Liam’s life.
Unfortunately, the bacteria had already infected large parts of Liam’s body. And on the first night after arriving at Randall Children’s Hospital, he passed away.
Liam’s family is devastated and cannot comprehend how a regular wound could lead to their son’s death.
Now, Sara hopes her story will serve as a warning to other parents about how rapidly this type of infection can spread.
“He was a ray of sunshine,” Sara told NY Post and continued, “He loved everyone, and everyone loved him. He was someone that when he walked in, everyone went to him.”
After the tragic loss, a fundraiser was launched to cover Liam’s hospital and funeral expenses.
Here you can watch a video about the terrible event:
Liam was taken away from his family too soon. Share to remember Liam and spread the warning!
