A mum has tragically died of a “flesh-eating disease” so rare her family say they had never even heard of it.
Jayne Morgan, 69 and originally from Wolverhampton, contracted necrotising fasciitis in February of this year after grazing her leg. She died mere days later from the infection.
Now her family are raising money to help spread awareness of the little-known disease.
Her brother Chris Sadler told Express.co.uk: “Jayne had been to London to help her daughter prepare the nursery for the arrival of her first granddaughter.
“On returning home, Jayne had flu-like symptoms and a graze which became extremely painful to the point she could not bear the pain any more and so was rushed to the hospital.
“Doctors quickly realised the symptoms yet, despite numerous operations, Jayne passed away just three days later on Valentine’s Day, two days before her daughter’s birthday, giving us no time to say our farewells.”
Necrotising fasciitis, also known as “the flesh-eating disease”, is a rare and life-threatening infection that can happen if a wound gets infected.
It can develop within hours or over a few days with swelling, intense pain or loss of feeling near the wound, and is accompanied by flu-like symptoms.
Later symptoms include being sick, confusion and black, purple and grey blotches and blisters on the skin.
“Obviously none of us had ever heard of NF,” Chris said. “It is key that any cuts or scrapes no matter how minor are treated and cleaned immediately to prevent them progressing into a more serious infection such as NF, or StrepA in the throat.
“One interesting point Dee Cartledge (the Lee Spark NF Foundation founder) made was never put a wound in your mouth which is what most people do when they say, cut a finger. As we did in COVID we need to get back to the basics and practice good hygiene.
“I think people need to be more aware of NF as prevention or swift action may just save their life.”
Jayne taught in Hampshire before moving to Gittisham, in Devon, where she taught in local schools and went on to become a deputy head and then a headmistress.
Then, instead of retiring, she moved to Berlin to head up the establishment of an international junior school which proved to be an amazing success.
She later returned to Gittisham and became a key member of the community, organising various events, village suppers and volunteering at her old school.
She was so beloved by her neighbours, the village flew the church flag at half-mast when she passed and held a simultaneous church service on the day of her funeral which was beamed around the world to her many international friends.
Chris said of his sister: “She had time for everybody and people never forgot Jayne and her great sense of humour.
“They say a great teacher is like a candle, it consumes itself to light the way for others. I wonder how children in the UK and Germany will mention Jayne when they recall their school days and their favourite teachers.
“Wolverhampton’s motto is ‘Out of Darkness Cometh Light’ and as a family, we want to help raise funds for Dee and her charity so she can continue to raise awareness and hopefully prevent such devastating and sudden losses.”
She leaves behind her husband Owen, her daughter Sophie, her new granddaughter Margot, who she never got to hold, as well as all her family, friends, colleagues and neighbours.
Jayne’s family are raising money for the Lee Spark Foundation, which supports people with severe streptococcal infections and necrotising fasciitis and their loved ones. You can find their GoFundMe page here.