Grieving Mum Reflects on Son’s Memory Daily After Tragic Death from Infection at Glasgow Hospital
By Nick Forbes and Billy Gaddi
Caitlin Donald, the mother of three-year-old Archie Donald, who tragically passed away in 2018 due to an infection at the Royal Hospital for Children (RHC) in Glasgow, emotionally expressed her ongoing grief on the first day of the fatal accident inquiry.
Archie, born on July 22, 2016, had congenital nephrotic syndrome (CNS), a kidney condition necessitating frequent treatment throughout his young life. Despite undergoing various health challenges, including the removal of his left kidney, Archie’s health struggles continued. His frequent hospital admissions, often due to infections related to his medical treatments, culminated in his tragic death on November 20, 2019.
During the fatal accident inquiry at Glasgow Sheriff Court, Caitlin Donald shared, “There is never a day that I wake up and don’t think of my happy, cheeky, smart little boy. I think about my son constantly.” She pondered what kind of boy Archie would be at eight years old and the potential he held for the future. Describing him as a bright light, she reflected on the impact he had on their lives.
Medical professionals testified that although Archie had been hospitalised multiple times in the months leading up to his passing, a subsequent post-mortem examination revealed he had succumbed to bacterial endocarditis, an infection that had gone undetected.
Dr Heather Maxwell, a consultant paediatric nephrologist at RHC, acknowledged her failure to recognise certain concerning indicators in Archie’s test results. The inquiry heard about the delays in administering an echocardiogram (ECHO) test due to bed availability constraints, ultimately leading to critical time lapses in Archie’s care.
Archie’s deteriorating condition on his final night in the hospital, marked by a sudden spike in temperature and other alarming symptoms, tragically ended with his passing despite resuscitation efforts. The post-mortem report cited the cause of death as a subacute bacterial endocarditis, overshadowing his chronic kidney condition.
Caitlin Donald expressed her anguish at losing Archie to a preventable infection rather than his known kidney condition. She grappled with self-blame for not advocating more assertively for her son’s deteriorating health, trusting the hospital staff who had cared for Archie since infancy.
The fatal accident inquiry continues as Caitlin seeks answers and justice for her beloved son. The heart-wrenching testimony serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of medical oversights and the enduring toll of loss on families.