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Grieving parents broke down in tears on Wednesday’s episode of BBC Breakfast as they recounted the death of their ‘adorable’ toddler after a doctor’s deadly mistake.
John and Emma Story appeared on the most recent episode of the programme to raise awareness about Type 1 Diabetes after losing their two-year-old daughter Lyla to the condition.
According to the NHS: ‘Type 1 diabetes is a condition where your body cannot make a hormone called insulin.
‘This causes the level of glucose (sugar) in your blood to get too high.’
Lyla passed away in her sleep in May, less than 24 hours after a GP sent her home with antibiotics after diagnosing her with tonsillitis – and her death has led to a coroner who has called for better awareness of the condition’s symptoms.
Overcome with emotion reflecting on the loss of his daughter, John said: ‘There needs to be more awareness in primary care settings.
Grieving parents broke down in tears on Wednesday’s episode of BBC Breakfast as they recounted the death of their ‘adorable’ toddler after a doctor’s deadly mistake
John and Emma Story appeared on the most recent episode of the programme to raise awareness about Type 1 Diabetes after losing their two-year-old daughter Lyla (pictured right) to the condition
‘There needs to be more awareness in the general public…
‘We were guilty of that. We didn’t know anything about Type 1 and how dangerous it could be.
John explained: ‘Obviously at the time, we knew nothing about Diabetes whatsoever. We learnt pretty quickly afterwards.’
The couple, who have created the Lyla’s Law petition, want a change in the law which will make GPs test babies and young kids of ‘the four Ts’.
He added: ‘Once they are displaying signs of the four Ts, toileting, thirst, thinning and tiredness, basically it’s a ticking time bomb.’
Emma said: ‘I want GPs to do that pin prick test just to rule it out, especially someone of Lyla’s age that can’t say “Mummy I’ve got a headache, or I’ve got a ear ache”.’
One in four children are diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in the UK – and they want more people to be aware of it.
John explained: ‘And for some reason, I don’t know why, but Type 1 Diabetes care is going to the back of the queue.’
Jonh told viewers: ‘Once they are displaying signs of the four Ts, toileting, thirst, thinning and tiredness, basically it’s a ticking time bomb’
John continued: ‘If she had just been finger pricked at the GP surgery, the likelihood she would be alive today, showing off her constant glucose monitors.’
Speaking about their beloved daughter, John said: ‘She was a kind, compassionate, caring young girl.
‘She loved pink and yellow roses.
‘She also had a sassiness to her. She was just adorable.’
With tears forming in her eyes and wiping them from her face, Emma added: ‘Full of life.
‘Everyone loved her.’
Lyla’s Law petition, which ends in December this year, currently has 22,982 signatures.
It aims to get funding so that all infants are offered testing for Type 1 Diabetes in routine care.
It states: ‘We believe that lives could be saved by doing this.
‘Too many children are misdiagnosed, and this can tragically lead to loss of life.’
