After months of waiting, and what seems a lifetime, we are finally in receipt of the NHS England serious incident report into William’s death. This will go to press in the Daily Mail on Tuesday 26th January. William’s story will cover 5 pages including the front page. We have worked closely with the Daily Mail, and in collaboration with NHS England, and the paper are paying us a fee of £8,000, with my gift aid, we will be donating £10,000 entirely to the UK Sepsis Trust as part of William’s Legacy.
Paul and I are heading to London tomorrow, and on Tuesday morning from 6am until 8:30am I will be appearing on Good Morning Britain on ITV. I will be interviewed by Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid, and I’ll be sharing William’s story. We will be using this huge media platform collaboratively with the UK Sepsis Trust and NHS England to drive forward the recommendations made in William’s report, as a direct result of his death.
I know many of you follow my blog and William’s story from all around the world, but please go and buy the Daily Mail on Tuesday and if you are unable to buy a copy, please read the paper online; and tune in to me on the TV. There is no doubt that William’s story will be covered on the national news BBC and ITV. It will be confirmed tomorrow whether I will be appearing in person or via video link on the news. It is expected for me to be appearing on the radio too. So please, if you are outside the UK, please tune in online.
As a family we will be doing our utmost to educate the public and spread awareness of sepsis, so others do not have to suffer the same tragedy that we are enduring. This is William’s lasting legacy.
It costs £85 to save a life from sepsis, £10,000 will save over 100 lives, and in addition to the fund-raising we have been carrying out, this will push William’s Just Giving account to nearly £20,000. Help us raise funds for the Sepsis Trust by donating below, and please share this, buy the paper, tune in to the TV on Tuesday 26th and make sure you know what sepsis is.
N.B. The release of William’s story in the news is subject of course to world news, according that World War 3 doesn’t break out it will be fine.
Child Symptoms
The Sepsis Six
www.justgiving.com/williamoscarmead
A Mother Without a Child 
Hi Melissa. I’m not sure of how to word it correctly, considering the circumstances, but I hope you’ll understand. Good luck and best wishes to you for your GMB interview. I have reminder set. Regards
Fergus
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Thank you. Please tune in. Hopefully I’ll do William proud.
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Well done Melissa I am so proud of you for your persistent effort in taking the cause of Williams death to the world, and hope that it makes many people aware of the tragic condition SEPSIS and saves lives in the future
Like you our thoughts are,and always will be with our precious Grandson. Love to you both Dadlington
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Thanks Daddykins xx
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I will be watching from Saudi Arabia and thinking of you, your husband and beautiful William. You will be great xx
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Good luck Melissa, I’ll be watching. We lost my 46 year-old sister in law, mother to two young boys in November, an ordinary bout of tonsillitis escalated into septic shock. We too are giving our time and support to Dr Ron and the Sepsis Trust. Elizabeth
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I will be watching with admiration for you.
I survived last February because my GP and
hospital were Sepsis Savvy. I’m going to do the
5k in London to try and give something
back.
My love and thoughts are with you.
Moo xxx
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As a sepsis survivor I understand the importance of getting the message out to the wider world, but I do get angry that someone has to go through what you have for notice to be taken…good luck and God bless.
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My thoughts are with you and your family. Thanks for working so hard to bring awareness. Williams legacy will help save so many lives, I just wish it wasn’t necessary. Sending you love and light.
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It’s the top story in the Sky News App. You are an entirely brave mother and father.
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Hi, I’ve just read the daily mail and you have taught me something I didn’t know. Valuable info on this deadly condition. Thankyou. William really was the cutest boy and I dont know where you find the strength. Very best wishes and god bless you all. Angie M.
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We lost our 1 year old Conor in near identical circumstances 16 years ago this week Our thoughts and hearts are with you all. We started a charity (www.conorsfund.org) to try and raise awareness of Sepsis and Strep A and work with a team at Hammersmith Hospital. I wish we could have done more. Please get in touch if we can help in any way either with your campaign or as fellow bereaved parents who understand.. A 24×7 NHS is a must. Michael & Julia Kerin (contact email on website)
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I am so terribly sorry for your loss; I do not know what words of comfort to offer you and your husband. I think you are incredibly brave; your son William is beauty boy and I am sure he brought you great joy, the loss you feel must be overwhelming. I am glad you still have his car seat in the car…I know I would do the same. We have sent a check today for £200 to The UK Sepsis Trust for William’s Legacy, I only wish it was more. Thinking of you, your husband and your son. x
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Bless you thank you that is such a generous donation. Can I ask the name it’ll be made out from so I can let the sepsis trust know and I can add it to Williams legacy amount xx
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The CAF cheque is in my husband’s name: Tom Montagu-Pollock, we also included a note with it to ensure it was for William’s Legacy.
My thoughts & prayers are with you all x
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Yes thank you so much, they received it and let me know. Thank you so much for your generosity it is very much appreciated xx
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Hi Melissa. William’s story is desperately sad and I cannot begin to image how you feel. Unfortunately his story is not an isolated one. You have done an amazing job raising publicity about sepsis and I am passionate to do my part as a nearly qualified nurse to raise awareness and recognition among colleagues and the public. Nothing can ease the loss of William, but please be assured in the knowledge that work you are doing is potentially saving many lives. You have done him very proud.
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Hi Melissa I just seen you tell Williams story on itv news. I never knew what sepsis was I only thought u could get it with meningitis. Thankyou for making me aware of it. I imagine words are not of great comfort to u atm. But I think you are a very courageous mum and i really hope the future brings you and your family happiness you deserve it. Xx
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You are truly amazing. Well done on getting so many to sit up and listen. I am so sorry you have had to go through this but what a lucky little boy to have had you as his mummy. I hope you and your family may soon find some kind of peace.
Sent from my iPhone
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I’ve watched your devastating story on the news this evening I’m so sorry for your tragic loss. What your are doing to raise awareness is absolutely fantastic and I’m sure William would be very proud. I lost my 6 week old daughter on 15/12/14 and know that awful pain all to well. I wish you and your family every strength through this terrible time xx
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Hi Melissa. I watched your interview this morning with tears streaming down my face.. it brought back the horrors of 24th February 2013 when i lost my beautiful boy to meningococcal septicaemia. Like you the NHS failed us with so many blunders and didnt detect his symptons quick enough.. the hospital sent him home but then he was rushed back in and died later that day.. this is not meant to happen, we are not supposed to lose our children. I feel your pain and know every emotion and the emptiness you are feeling. Your william was meant to have a life ahead of him but like gregor was cut unnecessarily short.. lets hope we get justice for our boys..
Jenny
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Well done today – fantastically powerful coverage which has clearly raised public awareness and triggered a process of serious reflection in the NHS.
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Hi Melissa, there are no words that can take away the pain of losing your lovely little boy. Thank you for raising your story about sepsis and hopefully the loss of William will save so many lives. You and your dear husband will be in my prayers.
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Melissa – we’ve just seen your story on the news and our hearts have sunk. We lost our little Shivai to what they said was a chest infection and then sepsis in September. I haven’t been able to keep thinking that something wasn’t picked up even though he was seen by 5 medical experts before he died. Like your little boy he was happy, healthy and making such wonderful progress. Could you contact me.
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Of course, I might be a little slow in replying with everything going on. I am so sorry to hear you are in our position and have lost your darling boy 😦 x
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