‘My baby died after hospital sent him home – I still can’t visit his grave’

A heartbroken mum whose baby died from a rare condition after being sent home from hospital says it’s still too painful to visit his grave.

Heather Hinshelwood lost her six-month-old son Jaime in 2017 as a result of undetected Kawasaki disease.

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After falling ill, doctors at Wishaw General Hospital in Lanarkshire believed Jaime had a common viral condition and discharged him.

He suffered fatal heart damage and died, leaving Heather and her two other sons devastated.

The nurse, who is campaigning for better awareness of the disease, feels close to him while walking in the countryside.

Heather, from Hamilton, said: “I struggle to go to Jaime’s grave. I don’t like the cemetery and don’t like the thought of it. I don’t think he’s there.

“I’m a kind of spiritual person, so I believe when we pass away we go back to the universe.

“I believe Jaime is around me in all things like nature and animals. I can feel Jaime in a stream, mountain or butterfly.

“When Jaime died at first I would look for wee signs like birds, a rainbow, just things like that.

“He was born healthy, absolutely healthy. He contracted what they said was a viral infection.

“I asked at the hospital if it was Kawasaki because I’d been Googling everything and I was told no, it was viral.

“He came home and seemed to be getting better but then he suffered a ruptured coronary artery aneurysm, which killed him.

“After the post-mortem it was confirmed to be Kawasaki disease.”

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It is described as a rare inflammatory condition that causes the blood vessels throughout a child’s body to swell, potentially damaging the ­coronary arteries if left untreated.

In the UK, it is estimated to affect eight to nine out of every 100,000 children under the age of five each year but it can be successfully treated if it is identified early.

Heather, 46, has since been working with the charity Societi to raise awareness with parents as well as doctors.

She said: “One of Societi’s slogans is, ‘When you hear hooves, think zebras not horses.’ Instead of putting ­everything down to a viral condition, Kawasaki should be checked for.

“They are supportive and have a big online presence highlighting ­symptoms and raising awareness. They always remember his birthday and the day he died with a social media post.

“They just make it that Jaime was here and is important in helping others while raising awareness of this ­insidious disease.

“A couple years ago I handed out information packs to local GPs which Societi provided.

“I decided the positive thing I could do from Jaime dying was to raise awareness so that other people don’t need to suffer the great loss of losing a child.

“I’m hoping I might have helped save a life. That’s what it’s all about, in Jaime’s memory.”

Heather has already done a skydive, bungee jump and a laser tag event to raise funds for the charity.

She also raised money for kids bereavement charity Brightest Star and got a cuddle cot in Jaime’s memory for Wishaw General so that parents can spend time with their babies who are stillborn.

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Heather also keeps Jaime’s memory alive by regularly talking about him with his big brothers Jack, 24, and Josh, 18.

She said: “How can you no? He was very much loved. And the boys will never forget their wee brother, he’s a big part of their life. They are both doing excellently.

“Jack is in the band Lacuna, who played at [leading Glasgow music festival] TRNSMT and Josh just got loads of As in his exams.”

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On August 16, Heather is tackling the gruelling West Highland Way to raise more cash while also giving her the chance to connect with Jaime.

She said: “I’ve always liked nature and I like to think that Jaime’s spirit is around in everything.

“That’s a big part of why I chose the West Highland Way.

“Also it’s another personal challenge for fitness. I’m not getting any younger so it’s to try and keep in shape.”

The NHS worker is taking on the hike with her partner Scott Darroch, 48, who never met Jaime but has been a rock for her.

She said: “We get on so well and we both love the outdoors. We’ve got matching boots.

“We might be at each other’s throats by the end of it but I hope not.

“As much as he wasn’t in Jaime’s life he’s very much accepting that I’ve got three boys.

“Scott has been nothing but supportive.

“He bought a wee lantern for Jaime’s tree, he’s just always so thoughtful.”

To donate to Heather’s West Highland Way challenge go to www.justgiving.com/page/heather-hinshelwood-10?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL

KAWASAKI disease (KD) is a rare condition that predominantly affects young children.

It causes inflammation of blood vessels throughout the body, particularly the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle. This inflammation can lead to blood clots and other serious complications.

If left untreated, Kawasaki disease can result in severe heart problems. Two to three per cent of untreated cases are fatal.

In the UK, approximately eight in every 100,000 children are affected, with the majority of cases occurring in children under the age of five.

Around 15 per cent to 28 per cent of affected children experience cardiac complications, including coronary artery aneurysms. The condition is also more common in boys than girls.

In January, two-year-old Hudson, from Knowle, Bristol, was weeks away from celebrating his third birthday when he collapsed and died on January 8.

His parents believe he died from a coronary artery rupture after Kawasaki disease, which he developed at seven months old, damaged his heart’s blood vessels.

In May, Rue Airlie, then 11 months old, was taken to hospital after developing a temperature, a rash and swollen glands.

After several days, the tot, from Dundee, was diagnosed with KD. Rue’s life was saved after he received a plasma transfusion.

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Common symptoms of KD include a rash, swollen glands in the neck, red eyes, cracked lips, and a swollen, red, bumpy tongue.