Cold-like Virus Triggers Rare Auto Immune Condition in 5-year-old

Five-year-old Elizabeth Spencer suffered with flu-like symptoms like a headache but passed away after 18 days. Her mother thought she had a cold died just days after she was diagnosed of a rare illness.// The cold-like virus triggered a rare auto immune condition which sent her body into overdrive to fight off the original virus. The condition, Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis, caused her body to go into septic shock, shutting down her major organs and cutting off the blood supply to her limbs.

Natalia, of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, said, ’I couldn’t believe it to begin with. In the morning I thought she had a flu and in the evening I was told she probably wouldn’t make it. ’It’s devastating for a mother to see a child like that. It was 18 of the most heart-breaking days. Her immune system killed her.’

Elizabeth was put on life support at Bristol Children’s Hospital and despite doctors’ best efforts she passed away on December 10, 2015 . On the day of her funeral, a rainbow appeared in the sky and after the service, her family released rainbow-colored balloons in her memory. Now, Natalia is fighting her grief to raise money and awareness by walking the entire coast of Britain - because the seaside was Elizabeth’s favorite place.

Source-Medindia