Mia goes rock climbing three years after losing part of all four limbs to sepsis

More than three years ago Mia Wilkinson lost part of all four limbs to sepsis but, determined not to let it restrict her to life on the sidelines, she’s getting up to show just what can be accomplished with a big heart.

Eight-year-old Mia Wilkinson will give anything a try, even indoor rock climbing, despite having lost part of all four limbs to sepsis.

Proud Mum Amy is used to her determined middle child wanting to experience life rather than watching from the sidelines and so was not surprised when Mia decided she wanted to join older sister Ellie, 9, rock climbing.

The sisters share a bedroom and a close bond.

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Mia Wilkinson rock climbing. She lost part of all four limbs to sepsis more than three years ago.

Mia’s physiotherapist joined them at the indoor rock climbing venue to help out and she is having new prosthetic arms made that will hopefully improve her experience next time.

“It was tricky because the distance to reach for the rock climbing holds was a bit far but we’re actually working with the prosthetist developing climbing arms so that’ll give her the reach to be able to do it,” Mrs Wilkinson said.

Mia wore her new prosthetic legs for her climbing adventure. She’s growing so fast, she’s onto her eighth pair – blades allowing her to run that are decorated with dragon flies.

Mia Wilkinson, 8, wearing her eighth set of prosthetic legs, decorated with dragon flies. Picture: Josh Woning

“When she runs fast is when my heart skips a beat,” her Mum said. “Mia has never had any fear. She’s brave and courageous. She’ll give anything a go.

“Anyone who meets her for the first time, the things they say is how capable she is. She’s figured out how to do everything. She’ll need support for occasional things but she’s really quite amazing.”

The Indooroopilly State School student had her arms and legs amputated more than three years ago after developing sepsis.

She had gastro-like symptoms, throwing up on a Friday night. Her parents took her to a general practitioner the next morning after she developed leg pain and later that day to a hospital emergency department when she became incoherent and was unable to focus on her parents as they spoke to her. She was diagnosed with the flu and muscle inflammation and sent home.

When Mia’s condition worsened that night, her parents were so concerned, they called the hospital who transferred them to a medical helpline. They were told to keep her home to rest.

Ellie Wilkinson, 9, and her sister Mia Wilkinson, 8, who lost part of all four limbs after developing sepsis more than three years ago. Picture: Josh Woning

The next afternoon after noticing Mia had developed a pale, mottled purple rash on her legs that did not fade when pressed, they took her back to the Queensland Children’s Hospital.

Within a couple of hours she was on life support in the intensive care unit and had to be resuscitated after her heart stopped.

In about 48 hours, she’d gone from being a healthy child to having multiple organ failure. At that stage, Mrs Wilkinson and husband Peter had never heard of sepsis, a life-threatening illness caused by the body’s immune system going into overdrive in response to infection.

Tests showed Mia had been infected with Streptococcus Group A bacteria, influenza A, influenza B and respiratory syncytial virus.

Determined other parents and health workers learn from Mia’s story, Mrs Wilkinson has shared their journey as part of an eight-part video series aimed at educating not only the public, but also health professionals, about sepsis.

Mia Wilkinson (right) with her Mum Amy and siblings Ellie and Max. Picture: Josh Woning

Paediatric intensive care specialist Paula Lister, chair of the Queensland Paediatric Sepsis Project, said about 500 children were admitted to the state’s hospitals each year with sepsis.

Of those about 150 children require treatment in an intensive care unit and about 10 to 15 of them die of the condition – more than for leukaemia or asthma.

“It’s known as the ‘silent killer’ because it can progress rapidly,” Associate Professor Lister said. “The risk of death rises dramatically with every hour that treatment is delayed.”

She said signs parents should watch out for included if their children were breathing “really fast”, cold hands and feet, lethargy, a rash, high temperatures, being uninterested in food or water and if babies were not producing as many wet nappies as normal.

“If it’s recognised early, treatment can start early and outcomes are better,” Prof Lister said.

“Parents are the experts in their children. Trust that instinct that there’s something wrong and go and seek help. Even if you’ve seen a doctor recently, go back. Trust your gut.”

Mia Wilkinson, 8, with her siblings, Ellie, 9, and Max, 4. Picture: Josh Woning

Mrs Wilkinson urged parents worried about their children displaying gastro or flu-like symptoms to take them to a hospital emergency department and ask: “Could it be sepsis?”

“I’d never seen my child this unwell before,” she said. “She was more unwell than we’d ever seen any child. Don’t be afraid to go to emergency.”

Mrs Wilkinson, who also has a son, Max, 4, said she had been told of other parents who had taken their ill children to hospital after hearing Mia’s story and sepsis had been picked up early.

“That’s really heartwarming,” she said.

The Children’s Health Queensland sepsis website and explanatory videos can be accessed at: childrens.health.qld.gov.au/sepsis