17-07-2025
Schoolgirl loses both legs and arm as parents issue warning over serious disease
A young girl had to have both legs and an arm amputated after being diagnosed with a serious disease. "Little fighter" Penelope Vidal-Walsh had repeatedly complained about feeling unwell to her parents, who then rushed her to hospital.
10-year-old Penelope, who is from Southport in Merseyside, had gone to bed as normal on April 10 but ended up in intensive care the very next day after her parents noticed a bruise. The schoolgirl let her mum and dad know she was feeling sick before she went to bed at around 9pm. She woke up and vomited at around 2am, when her father Ricardo put her in the bath and "checked her over".
The Liverpool ECHO reports that when Ricardo didn't initially notice anything of concern, he sent Penelope back to bed and when they all awoke the next morning, the little girl ate her breakfast as normal but ended up vomiting again at 8.30am. Her dad then checked again and spotted a small purple mark on Penelope's neck. After getting dressed, Penelope was checked by her mum Elizabeth who, along with her dad, noticed another purple rash on her knee.
The quick-thinking couple used the "glass test" to check the rash, which is a method of pressing a glass against a rash to see if it disappears under pressure. It is a method recommended if diseases like meningitis or septicaemia are suspected. If the rash remains visible through the glass under pressure, it could be a sign of a serious infection. The 'odd' bruise Penelope's parents spotted (Image: Angel Walsh/Liverpool Echo)
When the rash was visible under the glass, Ricardo and Elizabeth rushed Penelope to Ormskirk Hospital but she was soon transferred to Alder Hey hospital, where she was received intensive care after being diagnosed with meningitis.
Penelope has spent nearly 100 days fighting the disease but she remains "determined" to get better.
Ricardo told The ECHO that: "During this time she beat the meningococcal disease and also a very rare fungal infection which caused severe complications.
"As part of her treatment Penelope underwent a triple amputation surgery, which resulted in her losing her lower limbs and her right arm. She is currently undergoing skin grafting surgery as part of her rehabilitation and recovery. She has made huge progress and improvement and is even using a wheelchair and building up her core strength as well as the strength in her left arm."
Penelope is awaiting more skin grafts and remains on the critical care unit at Alder Hey for now. Her father is optimistic that if the skin grafts go ahead as planned, she may be discharged as early as October.
The family has set up a GoFundMe page to raise funds to help Penelope with her future and to give the youngster the "best possible chance of living an independent life."
Ricardo added: "We want to give her the best quality life and opportunities to fulfil any of her dreams and hopes that she had before this occurred.
"We want her to be able to not let this deter her from being the most energetic, fun, lively girl that she always has been. She remains determined and motivated to keep building her strength. The strength and resilience she shows us every day is just incredible and we are just so proud of her."
If you want to contribute to Penelope's fundraising page, click here.
Penelope's family are eager to raise awareness of the symptoms of meningitis and sepsis, which can be: High temperature of 38C or above
Rash or spots
Feeling nauseous or vomiting
Stiff neck
Aches or pains
Faster breathing
Being bothered by bright light
Cold hands or feet
Pale or mottled skin
Fits or seizures
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