A MUM is heartbroken after her 17-year-old, who had just learned her cancer was in remission, died from suspected sepsis a week later.
Hannah Riddell had been battling stage 4 Hodgkin’s lymphoma since August 2024, after finding a golf ball-sized lump under her arm.
Jill Mitcheson, 44, (left) has been left heartbroken after her daughter Hannah Riddell, 17, died suddenly[/caption]
The teen had been previously diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin’s lymphoma, but had since recovered[/caption]
Throughout it all, Hannah’s boyfriend, Kieron Stokoe, 18, (pictured) supported her[/caption]
“She had so many plans,” her mother, Jill Mitcheson, 44, said, “she wanted a future, and it was all taken away.”
Hannah, from Ashington, Northumberland had just finished school and was planning to study travel and tourism at Newcastle College.
But her plans were put on hold after the cancer diagnosis.
The teen underwent six rounds of chemotherapy and on January 7, she was told she was in remission, which means there is no sign of cancer in the body.
Throughout it all, Hannah’s boyfriend, Kieron Stokoe, 18, was by her side, supporting her “every step of the way.”
Plans to celebrate her recovery with a holiday to Mallorca were in the works when tragedy struck again.
On January 14, during a routine blood test, Hannah suffered two seizures. Her heart stopped shortly after.
Jill described how Hannah appeared “very pale” and was vomiting before the test.
“Her breathing was ragged and she was struggling,” the mum said.
Hannah complained of extreme pain in her legs, to the point where Jill “could not lay a finger on them.”
Another seizure took hold, and the emergency team was called and the room quickly filled with staff.
“Her eyes were rolling back in her head – she was panicking,” Jill recalled.
“Her breathing was really laboured and she was really struggling.”
It was at this point Hannah was moved to critical care, and Jill began to fear the worst.
“I knew she was seriously ill, but I never thought we’d lose her,” she said.
After some time, a nurse entered the room, tears in her eyes. “I’m sorry, Hannah is gone,” she said.
The teen dreamed of becoming a mum (Pictured: Hannah as a child)[/caption]
Jill couldn’t believe it.
“What do you mean, she’s gone?” she asked.
The nurse explained that about 55 minutes ago, her heart stopped beating.
“We’ve been trying to resuscitate her, but I’m so sorry, she’s gone,” Jiill remembers the nurse telling her.
What are the symptoms of sepsis?
SEPSIS is a life-threatening reaction to an infection that happens when your immune system overreacts and starts to damage your body’s own tissues and organs.
Symptoms of sepsis in an adult include:
- Acting confused, slurred speech or not making sense
- Blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
- A rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
- Difficulty breathing, breathlessness or breathing very fast
Symptoms in a child include:
- Blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
- A rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
- Difficulty breathing (you may notice grunting noises or their stomach sucking under their ribcage), breathlessness or breathing very fast
- A weak, high-pitched cry that’s not like their normal cry
- Not responding like they normally do, or not interested in feeding or normal activities
- Being sleepier than normal or having difficulty waking
They may not have all these symptoms.
If you think you or someone else has symptoms of sepsis, call 999 or go to A&E.
Source: NHS
Jill and Hannah’s father, Michael, went into the critical care unit where they were still doing “brutal” chest compressions on Hannah,
But when Jill held her hand she “knew she was gone”.
“It was just surreal, like it was not really happening and she was going to wake up – it happened so quickly, there was no warning,” the mum added.
“It was just the cruellest thing ever. Her whole life had been on hold. It was just the most devastating thing that could possibly happen.”
Hannah had dreamed of having “two or three” children.
She had her ovary removed for preservation, hoping for a future family.
“Hannah was like a second mother to her younger brother. She was so caring,” Jill said.
The family has raised over £3,500 on GoFundMe for funeral expenses.
They are now awaiting the results of an inquest to determine what caused Hannah’s sudden death.
Her parents believe it could have been sepsis, which happens when the body has a reaction to an infection.
It can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death.
Globally, one third of people who develop sepsis die, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
And many who do survive are left with life-changing effects, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), chronic pain and fatigue, organ dysfunction (organs don’t work properly), and amputations.
What is Hodgkin lymphoma?
HODGKIN lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that starts in white blood cells called lymphocytes.
It is not common, with around 2,100 people diagnosed every year in the UK.
Like all cancers, symptoms vary and can be vague. However, patients usually notice swelling in one or more lymph nodes.
This can be in any area of the body, but is often in the neck, armpit or groin.
The swelling is usually painless, although some people find that it aches.
Some people with Hodgkin lymphoma also have other more general symptoms. These can include:
- Night sweats
- Unintentional weight loss
- A high temperature (fever)
- A persistent cough or feeling of breathlessness
- Persistent itching of the skin all over the body
Source: Cancer Research UK and the NHS
