Teenager loses part of his leg and thumb after his parents mistook meningitis signs for food poisoning
Mitchell was placed in an induced coma and lost part of his left leg and thumb to the infection
A TEENAGER lost part of his leg and thumb after his meningitis symptoms were mistaken for food poisoning.
Mitchell Etherton, 14, was violently sick throughout the night after eating a bucket of fried chicken on August 4 last year.
Initially dismissing his symptoms as food poisoning, Mitchell’s father was shocked when he woke the next day to find his son’s legs had changed colour and were covered in a rash.
Mitchell was rushed to hospital where doctor's suspected he had meningococcal septicaemia, a form of meningitis, and he was placed into an induced coma.
As a result of the blood poisoning spreading around his body, Mitchell, from Canvey Island, Essex, needed part of his left leg and left thumb amputated.
Now, as Mitchell battles to save his right leg, his mother Sharon Sigston, is sharing his story to raise awareness of the signs of meningitis.
“Mitchell was at his father’s house where he had a fried chicken takeaway and it was a short time after that when he started to be sick, his dad just assumed it was food poisoning from a dodgy bit of chicken,” she said.
“It wasn’t until the next morning when he saw that Mitchell's legs were covered in a rash and had started to go purple, and he was saying that they hurt, that he realised it was something far more sinister.
“Luckily the paramedics were very quick and got him to the local hospital where he was put into an induced coma.
“And despite him losing his limbs, we’re just glad he’s with us today – considering we were told he wouldn’t survive the first 24 hours.
“But his journey is far from over, and we want to raise awareness for how easily something that seems as mundane as food poisoning can be something deadly.”
After being admitted to hospital with meningococcal septicaemia, Mitchell was put into an induced coma for five days to try and prevent any further damage to his body.
When he woke up on August 11, he faced the devastating news that he would lose both his left leg and part of his left thumb.
Sharon, 45, said: “A few days after he had come out of the coma, a specialist sat down with Mitchell and explained to him what was going to happen.
“His leg was completely black and his toes had shrivelled up – he knew that it was dead and had to be amputated.
“He is a very sporty boy and loved football, and his main concern was that he wouldn’t be able to play again – but he took it all in his stride.
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“Like all of us, he was more concerned about getting better, whatever it took.
“With his thumb, he had part of it amputated and stitched into his groin which allowed the majority of it to grow back – so now he has part of his thumb.
“He received his prosthetic in December last year and has since been learning to walk on it, and last month he even started playing football again for his old team.”
Mitchell still suffers with complications in his right leg from the illness.
“Unfortunately since this all happened, his right leg has become damaged again and he had to have his whole leg skin grafted last September,” Sharon said.
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“We didn't know what lasting damage the septicaemia had caused until last week - when he has a further surgery on his right foot and is now in a cast.
“He will have to have further operations if the operation to improve the strength of his ankle bone was unsuccessful.
“He’s doing amazingly well and is in great spirits still regardless of all of this, and we know he’ll continue fighting.”
Mitchell’s family have set up a Go Fund Me page to help pay for his treatment.
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