5-year-old girl dies from rare illness just days after 'catching cold'

A 5-year-old girl whose mum thought she had a cold died just days later of a rare illness.

Elizabeth Spencer started feeling unwell with flu-like symptoms including a headache. But the next day she collapsed and was rushed to A&E where she was put in an induced coma. Just 18 days later, the tragic youngster heartbreakingly passed away.

The cold-like virus she had triggered an extremely rare auto immune condition – which sent her body into overdrive to fight off the original virus. The condition, Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis, caused her body to go into septic shock, shutting down her major organs and cutting off the blood supply to her limbs.

Elizabeth was put on life support at Bristol Children's Hospital but sadly died on December 10 last year despite doctors' best efforts.

Now Natalia, girl’s mom, is fighting her grief to raise money and awareness by walking the entire coast of Britain – because the seaside was Elizabeth's favourite place. The 41-year-old, who was formerly a PA, will set off on Valentine's Day and tread 6,000 miles, starting from Durdle Dore in Dorset – the last beach they visited together.

She plans to finish ten months later on December 10, the first anniversary of Elizabeth's death.

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