Waking up in her hospital bed, Ella Clarke prepared to savour that precious moment every new mum cherishes.But instead of having her baby girl, just born by caesarean section , carefully placed in her arms, doctors were there with terrifying news that would blow Ella’s world apart.What should have been a routine op had gone horribly wrong after her healthy daughter Winter Rose had been delivered.
And after five days in an induced coma, Ella needed both legs amputated to save her life after blood had clotted in them.Today, in a heartbreaking interview, the mum-of-eight tells how her life has been changed forever because of an alleged NHS blunder.
As her lawyers prepare to launch legal action against the hospital – which has apologised – Ella, 31, says: “I feel like my life has been taken away from me.”I went from being an active mum doing the school runs and chasing my family around the garden to instantly wheelchair-bound.“I couldn’t stop crying. No human being should ever have to experience this. And it could have been avoided.”
Ella had already had six children in nine years with mechanic husband Ian, 32, when she fell pregnant again in March 2015.The prolific mum, who had her first baby with a childhood sweetheart, says: “We were delighted.”People think we’re mad having such a big family, but being a mum is the greatest feeling on earth.”At the 20-week scan, the midwife told her she had a low-lying placenta – called placenta previa.
If not given proper attention, it can cause excessive bleeding at delivery and a caesarean is usually needed.Ella had undergone six previous C-sections through choice with no problems and expected a routine pregnancy.She says: “It was the first time I’d suffered from placenta previa but I wasn’t nervous about being cut open again to have a baby.”
In December at 36 weeks, she began to bleed and was taken to Torbay Hospital in Torquay.Doctors told her the baby was fine, but it was time for the C-section.Ella, who knew she was expecting a daughter, signed the consent form. She says: “I wasn’t worried at all.”I was just excited about meeting my little girl. I remember telling Ian as they sedated me that I was so excited.”We were dreaming of a family holiday with our children – all eight of them.”
Doctors delivered Winter Rose at 6lbs 5ozs, but Ella lost six litres of blood due to a complication which can affect women who have had past caesareans.An emergency hysterectomy was performed and she had five blood transfusions.Ella was instantly placed into an induced coma and transferred to intensive care.She needed to be monitored hourly for the next 24 hours as she would be prone to clotting.
But doctors allegedly forgot to check. Six hours are said to have passed before she was seen and, by this point, her legs had clotted and circulation had stopped.She was rushed into theatre where two surgeons battled to recover circulation in both legs.But it was too late. Her tissue was already giving off poisonous toxins which could stop her heart.The doctors decided to amputate both legs below the knee. It saved Ella’s life, but also changed it for ever.After eight hours of surgery Ella was taken to recovery, and five days later she woke up from the coma.
She says: “I remember the moment. I thought I was waking up from my C-section.”I expected my beautiful little baby girl to be passed to me. I had no idea I’d been in a coma.“Instead I was told doctors had amputated my legs. At the time I was in a haze of medication.“But the reality started to hit home when Winter Rose was placed in my arms and my restricted future flashed before me.The couple were informed of the hospital’s oversight and were issued an apology.
She says: “It was five months too late. I have eight children to look after, what life can I have now?”This has impacted on us far worse than you can ever imagine. I will never stand on my own two feet again and that makes me shudder.”In notes of a meeting Ella had with representatives of the South Devon NHS trust, the hospital admits staff failed to check her legs for six hours.Ella says: “Had doctors been checking me hourly, I’d be fit and healthy and be able to play with my five-month-old baby like any other normal mother.
“Instead I’m a shadow of my former self and my kids are scared to cuddle me because my stumps frighten them.”Ella’s home has been modified, with steps outside the property replaced with a ramp and a handrail up the stairs.She says: “I have nightmares where I wake up dripping with sweat. Doctors have told me I have post-traumatic stress.”I was a normal mum for 13 years. That’s been snatched away from me.”
Devastated Ian says: “When doctors told me what they had to do, my heart sank. But I was just happy she survived.“I’m now more hands-on around the house. I’ll do whatever it takes to get back to our happy place.”South Devon NHS Foundation Trust said: “We are carrying out a full investigation and it is not appropriate for us to make further comment.”
Mirror