A family have been left devastated after their four-month-old baby died from meningitis just 12 hours after he laughed and giggled for the very first time.
Evan Summerfield from Devon had just learned how to giggle and take his dummy out by himself, but just hours later he was fighting for his life.
The infant’s great-grandmother discovered a rash stretching from his head to his belly-button that didn’t fade when a glass was put on it.
He was rushed to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, but despite doctors and nurses efforts to save him, Evan died hours later from meningoccal septicaemia.
“We're so confused how fast this horrible, nasty illness just takes hold,” said Evan’s 38-year-old grandmother, Sarah Summerfield. “One moment he was laughing and smiling and then, it seems like in a heartbeat, he was so cruelly taken away.”
Evan was born on November 3 last year and was just four-months-old when he took ill with a high temperature while staying with his great grandparents.
“They took him to the doctors and that was the first and last time he laughed. It's like he left it for us,” explained Evan’s grandmother. “I’m 38 and I never thought I would have to sort out a funeral, never mind for my 17-year-old daughter having to organize one for her four-month-old son.”
Mrs. Summerfield stated the terrible news still doesn’t seem real, with herself.
“It’s not right. I should have gone first before my grandson,” she said.
Evan’s 17-year-old mother, Shannon E-Summerfield, and 19-year-old father, Kris Adams, all devastated by the news and have been left confused as to how he could fall ill so quickly.
According to Mrs. Summerfield, “The doctor said he had a virus and gave him Calpol and Nurofen, and said if it gets worse he should come straight back.
“They went home and put him to bed and he was fine, but in the morning he had a rash from the top of his head to his belly button.
“My mum did the glass test and called 999 - she was so quick-thinking - it would be easy to think it was chicken pox.
“I just remember him having doctors and nurses all around him. But he was pronounced dead at 10.15am.
“He was so loved by everyone around him and everyone who saw him would comment on his gorgeous big, blue eyes. He was such a content baby.
“He had just learnt a new trick of taking his dummy out, and he loved the Simpsons, Iggle Piggle and 64 Zoo Lane - and even used to watch MASH with his great granddad.
“Everyone said what a brilliant mother Shannon was and Kris was a brilliant father. Even if Shannon just left the room for a second when she came back he would say ‘muh’ and his big eyes would be beaming.”
Meanwhile, Charlie McManus, a family friend, has set up a fundraising page to help pay for Evan’s memorial service, and help ease some of the family’s heartbreak.
The family wanted to thank everyone for their donations, and have seen more than $1,000 given for Evan’s interment.
All extra money will be donated to the Meningitis Research Foundation in the hope it will help stop other families going through the same thing.
“We’re not looking to give him a king's funeral, just what he deserves. We’re so grateful to everyone, people have been so kind,” added Mrs. Summerfield.
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[Sources: MailOnline, Metro]
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