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2023-06-16 11:56
Grandmother and grandson who had sepsis at same time ‘lucky to be alive’
A grandmother who contracted sepsis which made her hallucinate, have “blotchy skin” and turn the “colour of stone” later found out that her four-year-old grandson had the condition and Strep A at the same time as her, with the pair being “lucky to be alive”. Lorna Conaghan, 63, a retired business control analyst from Gourock, Scotland, and her grandson, Alfie Crawford, four, had sepsis at the same time, and Lorna “just couldn’t believe it”. In September 2022, Lorna was due to have a shoulder replacement, but on the morning of the surgery, she “did not feel right” and felt “on edge and weak” – but put it down to nerves. Little did she know this was her first warning sign of sepsis. After informing the doctors, they soon realised that one of her organs was infected and she was admitted to the hospital’s high dependency unit. The following day, Lorna was diagnosed with sepsis as her skin began to look mottled, and doctors told her that she “would have been dead” if it was caught any later. After having antibiotics and a few more hospital visits, Lorna began to recover, but it has taken her 11 months to “go back to normal” and have regulated blood pressure. When Lorna was in hospital, her grandson Alfie, who was three at the time, had chicken pox and a cold, which developed into sepsis and Strep A. Lorna thinks that because Alfie’s mum knew about her symptoms of sepsis, it helped her realise something was wrong. Alfie’s lungs were “full of pus”, so he was put on a ventilator and was in an induced coma for over a week. He also had to “learn to walk again”, and slowly has been able to make a full recovery – with Lorna saying the family are “so lucky to still have him”. Lorna told PA Real Life: “Alfie got sick when I was in hospital, and when I found out I just couldn’t believe it. “I think me having sepsis made Alfie’s mum realise that he had more than just a cold and chicken pox. “We’re both so lucky to still be here and that Alfie is back to running around and having balls of energy.” On July 4 2022, Lorna broke her arm after slipping on her dog’s tennis ball and ended up needing a shoulder replacement. On the day of the surgery, September 30 2022, at Inverclyde Royal Hospital, Greenock, she began to “not feel right” but put it down to nerves. She said: “I told the doctors and they tested me for Covid, but I was negative, and after a few more tests they thought one of my organs might be infected. “They thought it was my heart to begin with, but they couldn’t figure out what organ it was. “The biochemist worked out which antibiotic would best kill the infection, so I was put on that straight away.” Lorna stayed in the hospital for nine days, with seven of them being on the high dependency unit. She said: “They thought it was my kidneys, so they were trying to get them functioning again. “With hindsight, it was terrifying, but I didn’t realise how serious it was at the time. “I was a strange colour, the colour of stone, and I was all blotchy. “Doctors said if they caught it much later, or if I wasn’t in hospital, I would have been dead.” Four weeks later, Lorna was admitted to the high dependency unit again after her GP noticed she had extremely low blood pressure and low heart rate. She said: “I was so confused – when family members would visit me, I’d ask them to leave because I was hallucinating and didn’t want them to see me like that. “I thought there was a castle outside the hospital – I thought I was seeing it outside my window, and I remember thinking that we’ll have to go there once I’m out of hospital.” Since then, it has taken Lorna 11 months to get “back to normal” and her blood pressure regulated. She said: “I’m still having problems with my liver, but now I’m just tired. It’s really taken it out of me. I can only take the dog so far, I’m just so tired all the time.” While Lorna was in hospital, Alfie’s mum informed her that he was feeling unwell. Stephanie did not want to worry Lorna when she was already sick, but it turned out that Alfie, who was three at the time, had also contracted sepsis. Lorna said: “He came home from nursery with chicken pox, and also had a bit of a cold. “Then it just got worse – he was having terrible pains in his back, and I think Stephanie had just listened to what I had said about my symptoms, and it made her realise subconsciously that he might be more unwell than he is coming across. “They called the paramedics, and that night he got a lot worse – when they arrived at A&E, she took him up to the desk and said, ‘We’re going to have a dead child if we don’t do something’.” Within half an hour, Alfie was admitted to intensive care at Glasgow Children’s Hospital and doctors soon realised his lungs were “full of pus” and that he had sepsis, which had turned into Strep A. So, Alfie was put on a ventilator and was in an induced coma for over a week. “Doctors made it clear to Alfie’s family that it was indeed life-threatening and that he was very lucky to be alive Lorna Conaghan Lorna said: “He had to learn to walk again – he was so weak after he woke up. “Doctors made it clear to Alfie’s family that it was indeed life-threatening and that he was very lucky to be alive. “His legs were so weak – he hadn’t eaten much while being poorly.” After having antibiotics and being in the induced coma, Alfie is now “running around”. Lorna said: “With me, I’ve had a good life, but it was so unfair to think that little Alfie could have died – he hasn’t had a life yet. “We’re just so lucky to still have him with us. “This whole experience has made me appreciate everything – when I take the dog for a walk I have a sit down on the bench and take in all the lovely scenery. “I have treated every day since Alfie and I got better as a bonus day in my life.” Read More Amy Dowden reveals ‘life-threatening’ sepsis diagnosis amid cancer treatment BBC Radio 2’s Tony Blackburn reveals he had sepsis and pneumonia in health update Martha Mills: Parents of girl who died after NHS mistakes call for new right to get second opinion Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live
2023-09-06 22:57
Leave Rick Stein alone, Padstow penny pinchers – it’s totally reasonable to charge £2 for mayo and ketchup
First, they came for our energy bills. Now, they’re waging war on our beloved fish and chips. When will the tyranny end? Probably not any time soon and certainly not in Padstow, where Rick Stein has decided to add a £2 surcharge for extras like gravy, curry sauce and aioli at his fish and chippy. Apparently even celebrity can’t protect you from “food inflation, energy costs and rising wages”. Naturally, all hell broke loose among Padstow punters, who were outraged at the additional cost to their already £20 order. “I’ve always felt that there’s something of the night about him,” one decried. “Let’s boycott it,” exclaimed another. Let me add an unpopular opinion to the opprobrium. Back off, penny pinchers. Ketchup doesn’t come for free just because you decided to dine at Stein’s. It’s a product like any other, and it comes with a price. Why should Stein, or any other restaurant, have to pay it? As a restaurant critic, I’m aware that dinner is getting quite dear. But my advice for anyone complaining about prices is: have some perspective. My initial thoughts on hearing the news from Padstow were twofold. Firstly, if you don’t want to pay upwards of £20 for fish and chips, why don’t you just… go somewhere else? Stein’s is hardly the only joint in town. It’s also not the highest rated so if you are splashing the cash, splash it elsewhere. Secondly, what do people expect? Prices are going up in every aspect of our lives. Restauranteurs aren’t immune to that – they face exactly the same problems we do, if not more. The only thing alarming about the news is that even a brand as big as Rick Stein’s is struggling to survive. For a sachet of Heinz mayonnaise, sure, Stein should probably suck it up (though I imagine that, too, costs more these days). But is it so far-fetched to charge for condiments that are made in house, on the day, with quality ingredients, by trained chefs? Yes, Stein could just plonk it onto his already extortionate prices (£16.95 for cod and chips? You must be joking), but I imagine you might have a thing or two to say about that as well. At least he’s giving you the choice of paying for condiments at all. If you replicated the recipe at home, I’d be surprised if you could get the ingredients for under £2 in the supermarket. That perspective should extend to the impact our changing climate has had on fishing. We’re catching far fewer fish, which has driven up the price of a catch by 11 per cent in the last year. Politics also plays a role, where tariffs on Russia, which previously supplied 40 per cent of white fish in the UK, have forced fishermen to cast their nets elsewhere. The cost of vegetable oil has also gone up by 80p per litre. Given the fish and chip industry uses somewhere in the region 100,000 tons of the stuff, that’s an enormous cost for restaurants to shoulder. Even potatoes are heading upwards of £400 per ton due to increased fertiliser costs and the impact of last year’s hot summer. Then there’s the energy crisis – businesses don’t enjoy a price cap. You can see what I’m getting at. It’s a perfect storm. While arguments that a business as big as Stein’s should be able to absorb the costs somewhere in the empire are totally fair, the news reflects the struggle of all restaurants to reconcile spiralling costs with diner expectations. Earlier this year, Mandy Yin, owner of London laksa bar Sambal Shiok, responded to complaints from diners that prices were too high with a detailed breakdown of how much it costs to produce a single dish. From a portion of their £13 fried chicken, the business only makes 30p. This whole debacle also reminds me of a conversation I had recently with Charlie Bigham, a household name mainly for his boujie “ready meals” (he despises the term). When I asked him to justify why his fish pie now costs around £10 for two people, he gave me the usual spiel about rising costs etcetera, then asked: but why are we so obsessed with paying less and less for food? If we care about the quality of the produce, the impact on the environment and fair pay for the people that work in the industry, shouldn’t we be prepared to pay a bit more? For those lucky enough to be in the contingent that can afford fish and chips, £2 curry sauce might not be the hill to die on. Don’t get me wrong: I think it’s outrageous. But I don’t blame the restaurants. Next time you’re in Padstow, a little understanding, perspective and kindness would go a long way. Read More London’s best new restaurants: From Spanish-Welsh fusion at Mountain to British kitsch at 20 Berkeley The dish that defines me: Michele Pascarella’s Neapolitan ragu Is bottomless prosecco going to be killed off by climate change?
2023-09-14 19:52
Music Companies Sue Twitter for Alleged Copyright Violations
The National Music Publishers’ Association sued Twitter Inc. Wednesday, alleging it violates the copyright of songwriters by using
2023-06-15 03:46
64 flights cancelled at Geneva airport over strike
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2023-06-30 14:55
F1 Mexican Grand Prix LIVE: Qualifying updates and FP3 times in Mexico City
Sergio Perez will be eyeing a dream victory on home soil at the Mexico City Grand Prix this weekend. The Red Bull driver has endured a difficult few months and has not won since Azerbaijan in April. His team-mate Max Verstappen, however, has won 15 races this season and has already sealed his third world title. Verstappen was triumphant last week at the US Grand Prix in Austin where Lewis Hamilton - who finished second - was disqualified alongside Charles Leclerc for an illegal floor. Lando Norris came home third, but was promoted to second after Hamilton’s DSQ, for his 12th podium in F1 but the McLaren driver is still chasing his first win. Verstappen won last year’s race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Follow updates from the Mexican Grand Prix with The Independent Read More F1 icon Willy T Ribbs: ‘There were death threats – but I was never going to play the victim’ Max Verstappen urges fans to show him respect ahead of feisty Mexican Grand Prix Lewis Hamilton claims many more cars were illegal at United States Grand Prix
2023-10-29 00:47
A Week In South Carolina On A $59,000 Salary
Welcome to Money Diaries where we are tackling the ever-present taboo that is money. We’re asking real people how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period — and we’re tracking every last dollar.
2023-08-08 00:45
How to watch Japanese Netflix for free
SAVE 49%: ExpressVPN is a high-speed service for unblocking Japanese Netflix. A one-year subscription to
2023-05-20 12:21
What Lewis Hamilton’s clash with George Russell tells us about state of play at Mercedes
The post-race video on Mercedes’ social media channels was exquisitely timed. It captured Lewis Hamilton walking over to George Russell in the Silver Arrows motorhome in Qatar: an apology, an embrace. “Sorry about that, it wasn’t your fault,” said the seven-time world champion. No fallout. No outrage. The message was clear: let it be known that the collision which derailed both drivers’ race on Sunday night is unequivocally brushed under the carpet. Incidents like this happens. It is, after all, racing. However, the reality is that this one has been brewing for some time. The initial rumblings on team radio tell a better story. Russell, sandwiched in-between Max Verstappen and Hamilton at turn one, bellowing: “Come on, what the hell! That is two races in a row.” Somewhat remarkably, he recovered from dead last to finish fourth. Hamilton, though later taking full responsibility, insisted he was “taken out by his team-mate.” The 38-year-old was left beached in the gravel, his race run after a matter of seconds. All in all, it marks the end of quite a tumultuous month for Mercedes in Asia. Because what has largely characterised Hamilton and Russell’s relationship since the latter joined from Williams at the start of 2022 – his long-awaited opportunity of a lifetime – is respect. Two British drivers, 13 years apart. Hamilton: one of the greatest of all time. Russell: the next big thing. Both have grown equally frustrated at Mercedes’ underperformance in the past 18 months. A period defined by a car with a misdirected philosophy. A period of anguish and pain, both literally with last year’s porpoising and mentally with constant problems and a lack of pace. A period of one win in 39 races. But despite all the issues, respect had been maintained. And, they both say now, it still is. The video – captioned “actions speak louder than words” – points to that. But the touch paper has most certainly been lit. It started in Singapore, when Russell’s eagerness to taste victory resulted in a last lap mistake and shunt into the wall. Hamilton was on his tail then and profiteered to finish on the podium. A week later, in Japan, it intensified. The pair scrapped on numerous occasions, both on track in feisty moves and off track with different strategies and approaches. Russell, upon resisting an initial team order to let Hamilton pass, was told in no uncertain terms: “This is an instruction, George.” Hamilton was also unsatisfied with his team’s tactics in Suzuka, told to stay within DRS range to Russell behind to help his team-mate defend from Carlos Sainz. In the end, the elder statesman finished fifth, two places clear of his junior. So contrary to what both may believe, Sunday’s first turn collision – when both had a sniff and a glimpse of the lead – had been in the offing for Hamilton and Russell. And while both may well want to leave the Middle East with a mantra of forgive and forget, it points to a deeper tale emerging within the team. Both signed new deals last month until the end of the 2025 season. Both are desperate for success: Hamilton for that record-breaking eighth title, a title unjustly snatched from him in Abu Dhabi in 2021, and Russell to simply be in a fight for a championship. But when two competitive animals, vying to be No 1, are left fighting for every point and position, clashes are something of an inevitability. This incident will not be the last. We saw it with Hamilton and Nico Rosberg; a partnership with blew up at various points in 2016. Further back, you only have to go to Hamilton’s rookie season when he squared up to two-time world champion Fernando Alonso across the garage. It is little wonder Hamilton says his team-mate between 2017-2021 – when he won four of his seven titles – was his favourite. Valtteri Bottas never quite had the pace to match-up to the indomitable Hamilton. But Russell does not want to fall into that same bracket. Telling The Independent a year ago of his “ultimate goal” to win a world championship, his ambitions are sky-high. So much so, in fact, that he finished above his team-mate in last season’s standings and will be ruing a few errors this year which means he currently trails Hamilton by 62 points and is languishing in eighth spot, now below Lando Norris. Behind the impeccable politeness is an intense competitiveness and Russell is not interested in playing second fiddle. It all makes for an intriguing sub-plot to play out in the remaining five races of the season as we cross over to the Americas. The state of play in the Mercedes garage is bubbling up, to a point where something may well have to give. Toto Wolff was absent in Japan and Qatar due to undergoing knee surgery, but dialled in on Sunday to calm Russell down. After the incidents in the past two races, no doubt he will be back present in Austin in two weeks’ time and, frankly, both drivers might just need their boss back in town. The respect still seems present between the two Brits – but for how much longer? Read More Lewis Hamilton apologises to George Russell after crash in Qatar: ‘It wasn’t your fault’ F1 drivers unhappy after ‘dangerous’ Qatar Grand Prix causes fainting and vomiting Lewis Hamilton and George Russell collide as Max Verstappen wins in Qatar F1 drivers unhappy after ‘dangerous’ Qatar Grand Prix causes fainting and vomiting ‘I was passing out in the car’: Lance Stroll explains how Qatar heat took its toll Lewis Hamilton and George Russell collide as Max Verstappen wins in Qatar
2023-10-09 20:17
Kraft Heinz is recalling some American cheese slices because the wrappers could pose choking hazard
Kraft Heinz is recalling more than 83,000 cases of individually-wrapped Kraft Singles American processed cheese slices because part of the wrapper could stick to the slice and become a choking hazard
2023-09-20 21:56
For the bold and brainy: Best dating sites for geeks, nerds, and sci-fi buffs
Mashable's readers (and writers) are known for being obsessive about the things we love. You
2023-05-12 17:57
An 87-year-old woman fought off an intruder, then fed him after he told her he was 'awfully hungry'
An 87-year-old Maine woman ably fought off a teenage attacker before feeding him because he said he was “awfully hungry.”
2023-08-03 23:53
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