A Ferryhill family whose “smiley” toddler died just 36 hours after falling ill say they are “lost for words” after a petition in his memory topped 70,000 signatures.
Two–year-old Hudson Hewitt tragically died in January, hours after his family say he was "misdiagnosed over the phone during a consultation with a GP".
They claim a doctor initially said the tot had gastroenteritis - but his condition quickly worsened, and after visiting urgent care, he became unresponsive.
Dinosaur-loving Hudson, who was described as “so full of character”, was blue-lit to Darlington Memorial where he died despite doctors’ efforts.
Since his tragic passing, his family have been campaigning to make in-person GP appointments for children under the age of five mandatory.
They want to “prevent other families from going through the heartache” they endured - and launched a petition to try and garner support.
Hudson’s aunty, Annemarie Minnikin, told The Northern Echo how the overwhelming support of the petition had left the family lost for words.
“I can’t put into words how it has made us feel, just to see the number creeping - well, not creeping, flying up - every time I checked”, the 39-year-old said.
“I want it to get as much recognition as I possibly can. If I can fight for him in his memory then I won’t stop, I’m like a dog with a bone.
“It’s really overwhelming. Every time I get another notification I just get a shiver.”
Ferryhill resident Annemarie, who is mum to Luke, 20, Bailey, 19, and Annelece, 14, said she wasn’t expecting the petition to be spread so far and wide.
She said: “I was checking the petition last Friday and it was around 2,500. But on Saturday I was out and I just got an email saying to check the petition to see who else has signed.
“I clicked on it, I was in the car at the time, and it was on 10,000 - and over the weekend it just crept up. It was up by about 50,000 in two days.
“To be honest, I really wasn’t expecting the amount of support we have received. I’m a parent myself and I did understand that it would affect people as it puts them in our shoes.
“But I wasn’t expecting the gravity it generated.”
Hudson’s story
Hudson, who was born in July 2022, woke up on January 18 at about 4.30am when dad Tyler got in from work and was crying, pointing at his stomach and was sick soon after.
His mum called 111 when he didn’t improve and claimed a doctor diagnosed him over the phone, advising to keep hydrated and call back if he didn’t improve in 24 hours.
But the next day, he went from just being sick to “projectile vomiting” - and they took him to urgent care in Bishop Auckland.
When they were trying to get his observations, they laid him down and checked his belly, before telling Shannon they were going to ring an ambulance.
But when he asked his mum for a cuddle, she noticed his breathing change - and after laying him down, he went unresponsive.
He was blue-lighted to Darlington Memorial Hospital and - despite staff trying to save his life - he tragically died a short time later.
A pathologist later found Hudson died due to a twisted bowel due to a birth defect, which they told Shannon most people born with can survive without issue.
She feels it may have been spotted if he had an appointment straight away.
Annemarie, who works at a funeral directors in Spennymoor and helped organise Hudson’s funeral, said the huge response to the petition is bittersweet.
She added: “I just think it is so sad that we had to pay the ultimate price for losing him.
“But it’s so overwhelming that people are backing us on this. I thought friends and family might share it, but I wasn’t expecting this.
“He will never ever have died to us. In our eyes and hearts, Hudson will never die.”
At the time of writing, the petition had reached more than 72,000 signatures.
An NHS spokesperson said: “NHS England extends its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Hudson Hewitt.
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"NHS 111 is designed to ensure people get the right care at the right time, including referrals for urgent face-to-face assessment when needed.
"We are always willing to listen to people’s views as part of our commitment to providing the best possible care for patients.”
You can sign the petition here: https://tinyurl.com/msxw3nwn
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