Maryborough baby dies after sepsis, meningitis

When twin baby girls were born to doting Maryborough parents in July 2022, nobody could foresee the nightmare that would descend days later, when both babies contracted a killer virus.

Haylee-Jade Camm ​passed away at Queensland Children’s hospital on August 24, 2023 from complications relating to a stroke caused by sepsis.

When twin baby girls Haylee Jade and Hannah Camm were born in July 2022, parents Ashleigh and Leonard Camm thought their family and their lives were complete.

The Maryborough family of four had become a family of six, with the twin girls joining older brothers Jaxon, 5, and Jordan, 3.

That feeling was perfect and “something you cannot buy,” proud mum Ashleigh said.

Tragically, though, the family’s happiness soon descended into fear and sadness.

When Haylee was 16 days old she developed symptoms of hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar levels) and hypothermia, after Ashleigh found her “cold and sleepy”.

Her parents rushed her to Hervey Bay Hospital where she then “crashed” and had to be ventilated and airlifted to Queensland’s Children’s Hospital in Brisbane.

Haylee Jade with her dad Leonard and twin sister Hannah.

Two nights later, the same thing happened to Hannah. She was rushed to Brisbane with identical symptoms.

Both babies would later be diagnosed with sepsis and meningitis, but where Hannah recovered from the virus and was released from hospital 27 days later, complications caused little Haylee to have a stroke, which affected the part of her brain that regulated her breathing.

The Paediatric Care Unit of the Queensland Children’s Hospital became a second home for the family from that time on, with the diagnosis meaning Haylee needed 24/7 care from a dedicated health team.

The mental and physical toll of travelling 500km up and down the Bruce Highway each week was “the biggest toll,” Ashleigh said.

Haylee’s treatment also meant making hard decisions for the rest of the family, such as leaving Jaxon, who has septo optic dysplasia and autism, with a carer for 12 weeks in Maryborough.

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For most of Haylee’s 328 days in ICU, her parents felt helpless and depressed, but there were times they would never forget.

Ashleigh and Leonard were married in the ward in November 2022, and lovingly recall Haylee “opening her eyes” when they walked in the room dressed in their wedding suit and dress.

The final heartbreaking moment came last month, August 2023, when the family learned Haylee’s small intestine had died, leaving her unable to be fed.

It was then that Ashleigh and Leonard decided to stop “fighting for something impossible”.

On August 24, at 11:13am Haylee Jade took her final breath surrounded by her family.

Haylee Jade with her family in the pediatric intensive care unit at Queensland Children’s Hospital.

Her funeral was held on September 13, with Ashleigh saying she held onto Haylee’s casket and never wanted to let go.

The family hopes Haylee’s legacy will encourage others to donate blood.

The blood transfusion Haylee received on her final day gave her parents valuable time to say their goodbyes and savour their final moments together.

To the Camms, Haylee’s story is “one of resilience” for someone so small.

“She was stronger than most adults ever are.”