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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Baby survives 'incurable' illness | Baby survives 'incurable' illness |
| (1 day later) | |
| A baby diagnosed with "incurable" meningitis made a miraculous recovery after her life-support machine was switched off, her mother has said. | A baby diagnosed with "incurable" meningitis made a miraculous recovery after her life-support machine was switched off, her mother has said. |
| Grace Vincent was six weeks old when she contracted a rare form of the brain disease and was taken to hospital. | Grace Vincent was six weeks old when she contracted a rare form of the brain disease and was taken to hospital. |
| She spent four days in intensive care before her family from Newcastle opted to switch off life support equipment. | She spent four days in intensive care before her family from Newcastle opted to switch off life support equipment. |
| But they were stunned when the girl, nicknamed Amazing Grace, began to breathe on her own. | But they were stunned when the girl, nicknamed Amazing Grace, began to breathe on her own. |
| She is now recovering and her senses of smell and touch and her vocal ability are returning. | She is now recovering and her senses of smell and touch and her vocal ability are returning. |
| Her mother Emily Ashurst, 26, said Grace was born without complications on 3 April. | Her mother Emily Ashurst, 26, said Grace was born without complications on 3 April. |
| Her partner Pete Vincent, a 26-year-old marine, had just returned from Afghanistan and was settling back to family life when their daughter fell sick. | Her partner Pete Vincent, a 26-year-old marine, had just returned from Afghanistan and was settling back to family life when their daughter fell sick. |
| I think it is miraculous given the experience of five weeks ago Grace's mother Emily | I think it is miraculous given the experience of five weeks ago Grace's mother Emily |
| But on 16 May she was taken to Newcastle General Hospital after Ms Ashurst found her distressed, with tell-tale purple patches on her skin. | But on 16 May she was taken to Newcastle General Hospital after Ms Ashurst found her distressed, with tell-tale purple patches on her skin. |
| Doctors diagnosed Grace with an infection of late-onset Group B Streptococcus (GBS). | |
| The bacteria are present in nearly quarter of women of childbearing age and can be passed on to babies during labour. | The bacteria are present in nearly quarter of women of childbearing age and can be passed on to babies during labour. |
| Scans also showed she had suffered "catastrophic brain damage". | Scans also showed she had suffered "catastrophic brain damage". |
| Ms Ashurst said: "We came to the decision to switch off the machine. She was baptised and all the family came to say goodbye. | Ms Ashurst said: "We came to the decision to switch off the machine. She was baptised and all the family came to say goodbye. |
| "We held her in our arms and waited for her last breath." | "We held her in our arms and waited for her last breath." |
| But hours later she was still breathing and has now been discharged from hospital. | But hours later she was still breathing and has now been discharged from hospital. |
| Ms Ashurst, who has a six-year-old daughter Megan from a previous relationship, said: "Her breathing has stabilised, showing that her brain stem is not damaged. | Ms Ashurst, who has a six-year-old daughter Megan from a previous relationship, said: "Her breathing has stabilised, showing that her brain stem is not damaged. |
| "She has opened one eye but is still blind. Her pupils have begun dilating back to their normal size. | "She has opened one eye but is still blind. Her pupils have begun dilating back to their normal size. |
| "I think it is miraculous given the experience of five weeks ago." | "I think it is miraculous given the experience of five weeks ago." |
| Meningitis UK said early diagnosis and treatment was vital in cases of late-onset GBS infection. | Meningitis UK said early diagnosis and treatment was vital in cases of late-onset GBS infection. |