'I took my little boy for a check up - hours later he was fighting for his life'

A mum suffered "every parent's worst nightmare" when her little boy was struck down with sepsis hours after going to the hospital for a check up.

Sam Bent, 12 at the time, had an appointment booked to discuss an eating disorder he'd been struggling with. While in hospital with his mum Eve, Sam contracted sepsis and fell gravely ill. The condition rapidly spread to his heart and within hours he was fighting for his life.

Sam was transferred to Alder Hey children's hospital where he underwent heart surgery. During the two-and-a-half month ordeal, his family stayed at the Ronald McDonald House nearby, which provides free "home away from home" accommodation for families when their loved ones are undergoing hospital treatment. It comes after reports a mum took her own life while her kids were at school after GP said she 'wasn't suicidal'.

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"It was absolutely devastating," Sam's mum Eve told the Manchester Evening News. "It's every parent's worst nightmare. There's just no words for what we went through last year.

"This was all new to us, and came out of the blue. But I think because of his eating disorder he was weakened anyway."

On August 5 2024 Sam, who was 12 at the time but is now 13, was admitted into hospital.

"It all blends together a bit," said stay-at-home mum Eve. "Probably about a week later we were told he had an infection that had gone in his blood, his muscles, and his heart."

She added: "He had heart surgery, we got moved over to Alder Hey. We were in for about two and a half months."

After undergoing the emergency surgery Sam has now stabilised and is recovering, but his mum revealed that due to his age things may become complicated again.

"He's doing really well now," said Eve, from Blackley. "He's recovering really well. He does have lasting effects from it - he's on heart medication.

"There's a possibility that he will need another operation when he grows - he many need another open heart surgery."

Eve, 37, explained that this will depend on how he responds to the treatment as he grows.

During their time looking after Sam while he was in hospital, Eve and the family stayed at the Ronald McDonald house to be close to Sam.

Eve shared that this helped through the ordeal as they could be close to Sam and be on hand for him.

After Sam's recovery his auntie Katie Bent, who works as a nurse in Liverpool, took matters into her own hands to raise money for Ronald McDonald house.

Despite having no previous experience, she took part in a charity boxing match, beating a more experienced opponent and raising £1,360 which she will present there on Thursday August 14.

"After all the support they gave my brother and his family I just wanted to give back," said Katie, 35.

"I'd never really heard about them until Sam was in hospital and we were visiting him all the time. Some of the families have been there for over 12 months."

Sharing her message for families going through a similar ordeal, Eve said: "Take all the support you can. We were very lucky to have some wonderful friends and family around us who would drop off meals.

"We had the Ronald McDonald House, who were incredible. We could take Sam over to the garden when he was in his wheelchair.

"Just take all the support you can, because need it. You can't do it on your own."