Broadcaster Jo Whiley has shared the frightening experience of her 18-year-old daughter, Coco, being rushed to hospital with suspected sepsis. The incident occurred just two days after Coco's birthday celebrations, stemming from a severe ear infection.
Whiley recounted the event on the podcast "Dig It" with her friend Zoe Ball, explaining that Coco had been feeling extremely unwell with her ear infection and had begun vomiting her prescribed antibiotics. Whiley admitted to feeling guilty about being at work when her daughter fell ill, only to receive a message from her older daughter India stating "hospital sepsis come home."
"You know when your blood turns to ice... This is real life. And it was absolutely terrifying," Whiley said. She expressed gratitude to India for checking on Coco and taking her to a doctor who recognized the signs of sepsis. Coco was promptly given intravenous antibiotics and transported by ambulance to the hospital, where Whiley and her husband found their daughter to be very unwell.
Doctors identified the middle ear infection as the source of the sepsis, a connection Whiley said she would not have anticipated. The experience prompted the family to utilize Martha's Rule, a UK initiative that allows patients, families, and staff to request an urgent review by a senior doctor if they believe a patient's condition is deteriorating and their concerns are not being adequately addressed. Martha's Rule was introduced in 2024 following the death of 13-year-old Martha Mills, who died from sepsis.
Whiley described the comfort that Martha's Rule provided during their stressful ordeal, noting the helplessness parents can feel in a hospital setting. She also observed the demanding conditions faced by overworked hospital staff, describing the A&E department as chaotic with doctors and nurses stretched thin. Whiley praised the kindness of a nurse who provided updates throughout the night.
Approximately a week after the hospitalization, Coco is reportedly healing but remains fragile, with Whiley noting that the "post-traumatic stress is quite real." Coco had expressed fear of dying during her hospital stay.
Whiley also reflected on her parenting style, contrasting her younger years of partying with her current, more present approach, which she believes offers her children a healthier version of herself.