Four-year-old fighting for her life after trying on new shoes
<p>A four-year-old girl from Wales in the UK is suffering from a life-threatening condition after contracting deadly sepsis from trying on new shoes.</p>
<p>A day after trying on different sized shoes on bare feet, Sienna Rasul fell seriously ill. She was later diagnosed with sepsis – a life-threatening disease that can develop due to an infection.</p>
<p>As reported by <em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/7125547/girl-fighting-sepsis-infection-new-school-shoes-shop/" target="_blank">The Sun</a></em>, doctors believe the infection was present on the shoes that she tried on, and that there is a possibility that Sienna had a cut or graze on her foot that allowed the bacteria to enter her body.</p>
<p>As a result, Sienna spent five days in hospital with a drip attached to her at all times. Her mother, Jodie Thomas, was by her side during the ordeal.</p>
<p>“I was really shocked when the doctors said it was from trying on new shoes,” she said.</p>
<p>“I’ve been worried sick. They’ve had to drain all the poison from her leg.</p>
<p>“Normally she would have socks on but it’s the summertime, so she was wearing sandals.</p>
<p>“The shoes she liked had been tried on by other little girls and that’s how Sienna picked up the infection.”</p>
<p>Jodie knew something was wrong with her daughter when Sienna was constantly crying in pain after the shopping trip.</p>
<p>When doctors noticed the infection, they used a pen to outline exactly where it had spread.</p>
<p>“By the next day it had spread up her leg and her temperature was raging,” said Jodie.</p>
<p>“I drove her straight to the hospital. She was shaking and twitching – it was horrible to see my little girl like that.</p>
<p>“They said it was sepsis and thought they would have to operate.</p>
<p>“But the doctors have managed to drain all the pus from her leg and say the antibiotic drip will do the job.”</p>
<p>Sienna has been released from the children’s ward at Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, but is still being closely monitored.</p>
<p>After going through the horrifying ordeal, Jodie is now reminding parents of the importance of children wearing socks when trying on shoes.</p>
<p>“I knew you risk getting things like athlete’s foot from trying on shoes, but blood poisoning is far more serious,” she said.</p>
<p>“You don’t know whose feet have been in the shoes before you.</p>
<p>“Sienna has been really ill. The infection was moving up her leg and spreading to the rest of her body.</p>
<p>“I’m so glad I got her to the hospital quickly."</p>
<p>When shopping for new children's shoes, Jodie advised mums and dads "to take a spare pair of socks with them".</p>
<p>Chief executive of the UK Sepsis Trust Dr Ron Daniels said that: “This frightening case shows us that sepsis strikes indiscriminately and can affect anyone at any time.</p>
<p>“Whenever there are signs of infection, it’s crucial that members of the public seek medical attention urgently and just ask: ‘Could it be sepsis?’” he added.</p>
<p>“Better awareness could save thousands of lives every year.”</p>
