A mum-of-three whose twins became critically ill after catching respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is urging pregnant women to get themselves vaccinated against the virus. Jodie Stalker, 36, had to watch as doctors fought to save her two-month-old babies Lennie and Maddie who fell ill just days apart and feared she would lose not one but both of her precious children. Family life had been going well for Jodie and her husband Ryan, who also have a son, Dylan, four, after their twins were born in October last year.
The beauty therapist hadn’t had any problems during her pregnancy and although they were born premature, Maddie and Lennie were otherwise healthy. Then at eight weeks old, the nightmare began. “Lennie developed symptoms of RSV first,” recalls Jodie.
“It started with just a bit of a runny nose which I didn’t think anything of initially. But then about three days later he became very lethargic and sleepy. One afternoon, Ryan had gone upstairs for a nap when I realised Lennie hadn’t moved for ages.
I picked him up and noticed his skin had gone grey and he was floppy, so I dialled 111.” The operator advised Jodie to undress Lennie and see if he became more alert. “When he didn’t, she told me to put him on the ground and see if his chest was moving.
I couldn’t see him breathing and began to panic,” says Jodie. “She talked me through how to give him CPR as poor Dylan sat there watching. I told him to run upstairs and get Daddy and when Ryan came down.