THE mother of a toddler hospitalised for two months with E coli has spoken of the moment she feared her son would die.

Isaac Mortlock first fell ill on his third birthday in July and within two days was passing large amounts of blood in his stools and urine.

He was diagnosed with Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome – a severe, life-threatening complication that occurs in about 10 per cent of those infected with E coli – and underwent a total of five operations.

He was in Southampton General Hospital for five weeks, including seven days in paediatric intensive care, and in Poole Hospital for a further three weeks.

His mother Gabrielle Archer, 26, recalled how doctors told her Isaac was desperately ill. “They told me children die from this condition,” she said.

“You straight away think ‘Oh my God, my child is going to die.’ “Isaac was so waterlogged at this point, he was so puffy he could hardly open his eyes. He was unrecognisable from his normal self.

“He went into theatre and at 4.30am I woke up to what sounded like him saying ‘mum.’ He was having a fully fledged fit in the bed. I just stood there trying to take in what was happening in front of me.

“I just remember screaming ‘Somebody help my baby.’ I was just stood there frozen, looking at him, thinking ‘He’s going to die, he’s going to die.’”

For weeks Isaac’s doctors fought to stabilise his condition and there were various setbacks when his condition deteriorated or he needed further invasive treatment. He was finally well enough to return home in September, although his kidneys are still only functioning at 60 per cent and he has a lifetime of blood tests and check-ups ahead of him.

“He’s come so far from that child that was laid in intensive care,” said Gabrielle. “I’m just so glad he’s still here.”