In a poignant narrative of loss and courage, a mother from Derby has opened up about the devastating experience of losing her baby boy to a rare illness. Amy Wilkinson, 29, lost her son Teddy Gadsby just five months ago, leaving her family grappling with grief and raising awareness about the importance of testing for Group B Strep (streptococcal bacteria) in pregnant women.
Teddy Gadsby was born on a seemingly ordinary day in May 2023 at the Royal Derby Hospital, receiving a clean bill of health from medical professionals shortly after his 6 AM arrival. His parents, Jack Gadsby and Amy Wilkinson, aged 29, welcomed him to their Chaddesden home just over 12 hours later.
During her pregnancy, Amy had undergone a voluntary swab test for Group B Strep, a bacterium carried by 20 to 40 percent of adult women. Despite testing positive, doctors assured her that it should not pose a significant risk and prescribed antibiotics as a precaution during labor.
For the first month of his life, Teddy thrived in the loving care of his parents, alongside his elder brother Ronnie, who is now two years old.
Amy recalled, “We came home, and everything was fine. Ronnie was thrilled to have a baby brother in the house. On Teddy’s one-month birthday, it was a regular day, and we didn’t suspect anything was amiss. He was fussy, but we attributed it to baby colic.”
However, that night took an alarming turn. “He felt hot and hadn’t woken up for his bottle. I took his temperature, and it was 39.8 °C, which is very high for an infant,” Amy shared. Concerned about Teddy’s well-being, they contacted the medical helpline 111, which advised them to rush to the hospital.
During the short drive to the hospital, Teddy’s condition rapidly deteriorated. “His skin color changed, and his breathing became abnormal. When we arrived at the hospital, there were 21 doctors surrounding Teddy, which instantly signaled that something was gravely wrong,” Amy explained.
Teddy’s heart rate soared while his blood pressure plummeted. Doctors administered sedation and antibiotics, stabilizing him before transferring him via a blue-light ambulance to Nottingham’s intensive care unit.
Subsequent tests confirmed that Teddy had contracted Group B Strep, despite not being diagnosed at birth. Physicians diagnosed him with late-onset Group B Strep, speculating that he may have acquired the infection from anyone carrying the virus who had come into contact with him in the previous month, not necessarily his mother.
Despite intensive efforts, including three blood transfusions, Teddy’s brain had suffered oxygen deprivation en route to intensive care, which likely would have resulted in severe learning disabilities had he survived. The heartbreaking decision to discontinue life support was made, and Teddy Gadsby passed away, displaying remarkable strength by lasting over two hours.
In honor of Teddy’s memory, his parents, Amy and Jack, have embarked on a mission to raise awareness about Group B Strep and support the charity Group B Strep Support, which aids parents facing similar challenges. They organized a charity walk from Ilkeston to Pride Park on September 16, embracing the opportunity to ensure Teddy’s legacy lives on by helping others in their situation.
Amy reflected, “We did not want Teddy’s death to be in vain. This was our way of starting to assist people who might find themselves in our position. It was Jack’s friend Julian who suggested the charity walk, and although we initially thought it might be too soon, we decided to go through with it. Teddy’s memory lives on, and we want to make a positive impact in his name.”
