Hudson Perrins had overcome several hurdles in his short two years of life. Diagnosed with a heart defect, the cheeky toddler underwent heart surgery at 7 months of age and was finally starting to catch up to his peers.
Sadly, the little boy who was one month shy of turning three, died after being released from a UK hospital for constipation. After his unexpected death, it was concluded that Hudson was not suffering from constipation but from a brain injury caused by a urinary tract infection that affected his kidneys and caused sepsis.
Hudson’s heartbroken parents have issued a message about their sweet little boy as they continue to question if the hospital’s misdiagnosis was to blame for their son’s death.
Misdiagnosed with cinstipation
Hudson was first taken to hospital at night on 23 June 2024 after he complained about stomach pain. At Wolverhampton’s New Cross Hospital, Hudson was examined, and the doctor felt something hard during Hudson’s examination which led him to the diagnosis of constipation.
They allegedly gave him two suppositories and an enema before sending him home, despite him not having had a bowel movement. According to Hudson’s mother, Kayleigh, he was discharged without having any urinary sample done or having his heart rate checked.
Gone in four days
The next day Hudson’s mum and dad rushed him back to New Cross Hospital as the little boy was still complaining of stomach pain and started having seizures. From there, he was transferred to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, where he was placed on life support.
He sadly died three days later.
We just want answers
As Hudson’s death was so unexpected, his parents are demanding more answers about why Hudson was discharged in the first place.
Hudson, who struggled with bladder and kidney troubles in the past, was described as “very cheeky and boisterous, but really loving as well.”
“He really loved a cuddle and was really affectionate. He was our baby.
As a family, we just want lessons to be learned and we don’t want any other family to go through everything that we’ve been through because it’s just devastating. The ground’s just opened up and we’ve all just fallen into a black hole, and we don’t want this to happen again.”
Although upset about the decision to initially discharge her son, Kayleigh speaks highly of the hospital and the care he received the following day.
‘We have never had any other fault with New Cross. Even when my partner and I took him back in, we can’t fault the care we received. Maybe it was the staff members that were on, or the time of day. When his Dad took him it was night shift, when we took him it was day shift. You think, what if? What if it was a day shift, what if I took him – it’s all just what ifs?’
The cause of death was given as brain injury caused by urosepsis — a type of sepsis that occurs when a urinary tract infection (UTI) spreads to the kidneys.Â
According to the National Institute of Health, Urosepsis is sepsis caused by urinary tract infections, including cystitis, lower urinary tract and bladder infections, and pyelonephritis, or upper urinary tract and kidney infections.
Hospital not to blame for Hudson Perrins’ death
An inquest this week confirmed that Hudson died of “natural causes” and that the hospital was not at fault for releasing Hudson with a constipation diagnosis.
Assistant coroner Kelly Dixon said a verdict of natural causes did not mean there had not been failings and she believes the hospital should have checked Hudson’s heart rate before releasing him.
“It is really important to them that lessons are learnt and no family has to go through what they had to, as a result of Hudson’s death.”
They may then have noticed sepsis symptoms. However, this check was not carried out. The inquest did say that, even if the checks had been carried out, they did not believe Hudson’s death could have been avoided as sepsis comes on very quickly and suddenly.
Clinical negligence expert Michael Portman-Hann, from FBC Manby Bowdler, previously added:
“This is a tragic case that has left the family with so many questions and concerns. We will support them in any way we can to make sure no other family goes through this trauma.”
