Dads Issue Urgent Warning After Their Baby Boy Died Mere Days After First Birthday

Baby Owen Khoo faced numerous challenges in his short life. Born, prematurely, at just 29 weeks, he came out with a fighting spirit. Sadly, despite overcoming his first year, he was found unconscious in his crib, and later died due to complications from meningococcal disease. As a result, his two adoring dads have issued a warning to other parents.

Prevailing over Complications

Leigh and Justin Khoo from Melbourne, Australia, were thrilled to become first-time fathers and start their family. Through surrogacy, Owen was born, and his dads were over the moon! However, because he was born ten weeks early, he suffered some health complications, including retinopathy of prematurity. Nonetheless, the happy little guy prevailed and celebrated his first birthday engulfed in love.

Tragedies Ushered by a Deadly Disease

Tragically, after a 4-day battle in the hospital, Owen passed away just a week after celebrating his first birthday. Owen had what’s known as meningococcal disease. There are treatment options and preventative measures that can be taken. However, even with treatment, about 5% of people don’t survive the disease. Meanwhile, others will likely face lifelong health complications, including brain damage or damage to the nervous system. In some cases, meningococcal disease can also result in loss of limbs.

“In about five to 10 per cent of cases people can get very, very sick and the infection spreads all through the bloodstream and then it causes clotting in the very small blood vessels,” explained Dr. Donna Mak, a public health physician in Australia. “When that clotting happens, then the peripheries, perhaps the arms, legs, feet and toes they lose their blood supply and then they die.“

Understanding Meningococcal Disease

Meningococcal disease is a bacterial infection caused by Neisseria meningitidis. This bacterial infection is found in the meninges and the bloodstream and can cause an array of symptoms. Some of the most common include headache, fever, vomiting, and muscle stiffness or pain. Medical professionals note that meningococcal disease is difficult to diagnose without proper testing. The reason is that symptoms are so similar to other ailments, such as a common cold or flu.

Other symptoms can include loss of appetite, irritability, confusion, difficulties with balance, sensitivity to bright lights, and exhaustion. Luckily, one common symptom provides a visual for parents, a rash. While rashes are common for small children, those suffering from meningococcal disease may have a dark rash that looks like little “pinpoints.” The red or purple dots can sometimes be larger, appearing more like a bruise. For a more detailed look at the symptoms, take a look at the Instagram post from Dr. Karl Pobre below.

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A post shared by 𝙳𝚛 𝙺𝚊𝚛𝚕 ᵉᵐᵉʳᵍᵉⁿᶜʸ ᵖᵃᵉᵈⁱᵃᵗʳⁱᶜˢ (@drkarlitopemed)

Preventing Meningococcal Disease

In order to understand how to prevent this deadly disease, it’s important to first understand how it’s transmitted. Firstly, and some good news, meningococcal disease isn’t airborne, meaning it can’t be transmitted by just breathing the same air as someone with the infection. In fact, although it’s contagious, it’s less so than other common illnesses and can’t live long outside the body. However, it is still contagious and spread through a more intimate means of transmission. Grossly, an exchange of mucus or saliva or prolonged exposure are the two main methods for transmission. Examples include kissing someone with Meningococcal Disease or being sneezed or coughed on by someone with the disease.

Interestingly, post WW2, we’ve seen a significant decrease in cases thanks to modern medicine. There is a vaccination for the prevention of meningococcal disease. Unfortunately, it can’t be administered until the baby is at least one year old. Additionally, for Owen’s prematurely born body, he was suggested to wait a little longer.

Other methods of prevention methods include good hygiene habits such as frequent hand washing. Another method of avoiding the deadly disease is to keep a distance from others. Particularly strangers in settings like the grocery store or at the movies. Furthermore, isolation is suggested when someone within a household has come in contact with someone who has meningococcal disease. This will help to prevent further transmission.

Treatment

Although meningococcal disease does have a surprisingly high fatality rate or causes lifelong complications, there are treatment options that may significantly increase the possibility of survival. The most common treatment option is antibiotics. They may take anywhere from 7-10 days to work but will, in many cases, eliminate the infection. For more severe cases, some sufferers may be given breathing treatments or medication to help lower blood pressure. Some cases will also require surgery and follow-up wound care.

Spreading Knowledge

The Khoos have set up a GoFundMe to raise awareness of the disease. Moreover, they’re urging parents to stay hypervigilant regarding their children’s health. Their heartbreaking story is also a reminder of the added challenges same-sex couples endured to start families.

Some parts of the world support love and equality, advocating for individuals to live their lives however they see fit, assuming they’re not causing harm to others. However, there are some places in societies that do not. Therefore, same-sex couples often face scrutiny, even roadblocks, and the costly process of having a baby through a non-traditional method.

Heartbreaking stories like this offer a warning to parents to stay informed and keep an eye out for meningococcal disease or other life-threatening illnesses that impact children every day. The story is also a reminder to be kind to others because each person is facing unknown battles in their personal lives. After enduring such unimaginable heartbreaks, people deserve to be treated with a little compassion.

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