Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Felicity-Jo Rowlett-Howes, a 13-year-old from Nelson, Lancashire, emerged from a two-week induced coma on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
She had been in critical condition due to septic shock triggered by previously undiagnosed congenital intestinal scarring.
Advertisement
She is now showing encouraging signs of recovery, including taking her first steps and speaking, as reported by BBC.
Her coma was the result of a severe infection and sepsis that developed rapidly after her intestines became completely obstructed.
This condition stemmed from an initial misdiagnosis in February 2024, when Felicity-Jo was admitted for severe abdominal cramps and vomiting.
Doctors at the time thought she was simply suffering from gastroenteritis or stomach flu.
After being discharged from Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital, Felicity-Jo's condition deteriorated dramatically a month later, leading to her collapsing from extreme pain.
From Misdiagnosis to Coma
In February 2024, Felicity-Jo Rowlett-Howes was rushed to Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital due to severe abdominal cramps and profuse vomiting.
After observation, the medical team diagnosed her with gastroenteritis and discharged her the next day after showing temporary improvement.
However, this initial diagnosis proved incorrect and triggered a series of life-threatening medical events.
A month later, on March 15, 2024, Felicity-Jo's condition deteriorated drastically, leading to her fainting from unbearable pain.
She was then taken to Burnley General Teaching Hospital, where the medical team finally discovered the true cause.
Felicity-Jo had congenital adhesions, bands of scar tissue in her intestines that caused a complete obstruction.
This intestinal obstruction quickly led to severe infection and sepsis, a condition in which the immune system overreacts and begins to damage the body's own organs.
Sepsis is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment to prevent permanent organ damage or death.
Felicity-Jo's Intensive Care and Recovery
Following a correct diagnosis, Felicity-Jo required emergency resuscitation and underwent critical surgery to remove part of her damaged intestine.
She was then transferred to Royal Manchester Children's Hospital for further care.
There, she spent two weeks in an induced coma, on life support, in the pediatric intensive care unit.
During her challenging four-week hospitalization, Felicity-Jo was also diagnosed with two blood clots that required specialized treatment.
Felicity-Jo has now been moved out of intensive care and continues her recovery on a general ward.
"She is very weak but she hasn't lost that spirit," Natalie-Anne said.
A Mother's Message
Natalie-Anne Rowlett, Felicity-Jo's mother, voiced her concern and hoped her daughter's case would raise public awareness.
She emphasized that sepsis can progress very quickly and often presents with non-specific symptoms, making it difficult to detect in its early stages.
Natalie-Anne wants others to "trust their guts" when something "doesn't feel right" and to be aware of the symptoms of sepsis.
"I'm not a doctor but I felt it wasn't right," she said.
"You know your own child. And I had wondered if there was something else wrong. We didn't know about the scar tissue or the blockage."
Sources:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce35ggwpwx8o
https://people.com/teen-sent-home-hospital-stomach-bug-symptoms-month-later-coma-icu-11949325