Friday, October 4, 2013

Brimscombe mum's plea for injection pen which could save her little girl’s life

Brimscombe mum's plea for injection pen which could save her little girl's life

6:02pm Monday 30th September 2013

By Hayley Mortimer

MUM Rachel Pegler has issued a heartfelt plea to SNJ readers to back a petition for health bosses to create an injection pen which could save her little girl's life.

Brimscombe schoolgirl Molly, 14, suffers from a rare condition called hypopituitarism, which can be fatal if levels of the hormone cortisol drop too low and she does not receive an injection in time.

She cannot leave the house without a life-saving kit that contains a syringe, needles and vials of hydrocortisone and her teachers at Thomas Keble School have been trained to give the jab.

Rachel is urging medical bosses to create an 'epi-pen' for this type of illness, which would enable Molly to administer her own injection in an emergency.

She has launched an online petition to get the issue raised in Parliament, which has already attracted more than 2,000 signatures.

"We currently have a very outdated style injection," said Rachel, an artist and illustrator.

"I worry that when alone and close to unconscious my little girl would not even be able to take the top off the glass tube.

"An injection pen could mean life or death."

Cortisol is a chemical hormone produced by the body to manage stress by providing a boost of blood sugar.

When Molly becomes stressed or unwell she is unable to produce enough cortisol and has to rely on extra steroids, which she takes three times a day.

If she is sick or suffers any trauma or injury she needs an emergency injection and hospital treatment.

Molly, who has an older brother Josh, 19, and younger sisters Poppy, 10, and Primrose, one, also has other health problems, which affect her immune system.

"Ultimately I would like my little girl to finally have a normal life," said Rachel.

"Molly is the most cheerful lovely girl. She loves writing scripts and fiction.

"It is such a strain on all of us when she is poorly, we all find it very hard.

"Molly has gone through so much and deserves the knowledge that no mistakes will be made in saving her life in an emergency situation."

To sign the petition go to http://tinyurl.com/o2dwoxp

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Cortisol: The Hormone Maverick

Not too many things about Cushing's make me laugh. This lecture title did.

Hypercortisolemia: When a Good Hormone Goes Bad