The festive season will forever be marked by profound loss for Lorraine McCorkindale, who endured the unimaginable tragedy of losing her five-year-old granddaughter, followed by the suicide of her heartbroken son.
A Family's Descent into Nightmare
In late November 2022, Lorraine's son, Robert, called from the hospital with her beloved granddaughter, Stella-Lily. "She just died for five minutes on the table," he sobbed. The little girl was critically ill. Within hours, she was diagnosed with sepsis, a life-threatening reaction to an infection. Despite the efforts of a brilliant intensive care team, Stella-Lily passed away on December 5th, 2022, just three weeks before Christmas and her sixth birthday.
The family's grief was compounded by the knowledge that Stella-Lily's parents had taken her to hospital three times before she was finally admitted. On two occasions, she was sent home. An independent review later commissioned by Belfast Health and Social Care Trust found critical failures. During her second A&E visit, a doctor requested a blood test via a cannula, but it was never done. Her urine was also not tested. The report stated this test "would probably" have shown abnormal results and that IV antibiotics at that stage might have "led to a different outcome."
A Father Destroyed by Grief
In the devastating months that followed, Robert, who had shared custody of Stella-Lily, spiralled. "He never stopped blaming himself," Lorraine recalls. He repeatedly said he should have done more to make the doctors listen. A man with no prior mental health issues, Robert was hospitalised several times after overdosing on alcohol and medication.
By Christmas 2023, he seemed to be turning a corner, promising his mother they would have a good Christmas. He played games with his nieces and nephews on Boxing Day, offering a glimmer of hope. Tragically, a couple of weeks later, on the afternoon of his birthday, Lorraine received the call she dreaded. Robert had taken his own life. He left notes for his family, telling them to look after his mother because she "will be crying the hardest." In a video message, he said, "I always thought Stella-Lily needed me – but now I know that I need her."
The Crucial Fight for Sepsis Awareness
Lorraine has channelled her anguish into a campaign for awareness, determined that her family's suffering should save others. She actively participated in the independent review into Stella-Lily's care, submitting a letter calling for four basic tests – temperature, swabs, urine, and blood tests – to be routine for poorly children in A&E. This recommendation was included in the final report.
She urges every parent and carer to trust their instincts and know the signs of sepsis. According to the UK Sepsis Trust, sepsis kills an estimated 48,000 people in the UK each year – more than breast, bowel, and prostate cancer combined. Around 2,000 children develop sepsis annually in the UK.
Key sepsis symptoms in children include:
- Breathing very fast.
- Having a fit or convulsion.
- A rash that does not fade when pressed.
- Skin that looks mottled, bluish, or pale.
- Being abnormally cold to touch.
- Being very difficult to wake.
Lorraine also highlights Martha's Law, which gives patients and families the right to request an urgent clinical review if they feel their concerns are not being addressed. "Parents know their children better than anyone else," she says. "If I can help just one other family to spot the signs of sepsis, Stella-Lily’s death won’t have been in vain."
If you are struggling with grief or mental health, the Samaritans offer free, confidential support 24/7 on 116 123.
