Teenager nearly died from condition she didn't know about

Jorja Horne-Edwards, 14, was rushed to Canolfan Goffa Ffestiniog by Ysgol y Moelwyn staff after she was found collapsed in the toilet at school.

Clinicians at the health centre assessed Jorja when she arrived and found her blood sugar was extremely high indicating Type 1 Diabetes and imminent diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) – a serious complication of diabetes that can be life-threatening.

One of the clinicians there that day, Advanced Nurse Practitioner Dominic Marten, said: “When Jorja arrived she was severely unwell, we pulled the emergency cord and all staff in the practice rushed in to offer support.

The team at Canolfan Goffa Ffestiniog with Jorja and her mum Emma. (Image: BCUHB)

“Her condition deteriorated quickly and she became unresponsive – we called for an ambulance and asked for the Practice Advanced Paramedic to come and support us until the air ambulance arrived.

“I contacted the District Nursing team on site to request IV fluids and ketone strips. Jorja was cannulated and we found that her ketones and blood glusose levels were high, she was in and out of consciousness, unresponsive and disorientated. We believed she had gone into Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).”

Jorja was flown to Ysbyty Gwynedd via Wales Air Ambulance where she later received the Type 1 Diabetes diagnosis.

Her mother, Emma Horne-Edwards, said the diagnosis came as a shock and more awareness needs to be raised around symptoms of diabetes in adolescents.

She said: “We weren’t aware of the signs at the time and there are no diabetes in our family, the only thing we did notice was that Jorja was drinking more fluid than normal and becoming dehydrated but we didn’t think for one second she could be a diabetic.

“We hope Jorja’s story will raise awareness of the condition in younger people so people are more aware of the symptoms.”

Jorja is now managing her diabetes well and recently returned to the practice to thank the staff who kept her alive until she reached hospital. 

She said: “I will always be forever grateful to the staff at the practice for helping me that day – they saved my life.

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“It was lovely to see them as I can’t remember all their faces from that day and it was so nice to thank them in person.”

Practice Manager, Eirian Lloyd-Williams said she was incredibly proud of her team for their actions that day.

She said: “All staff members went above and beyond to help Jorja, her mum Emma and school staff; from admin staff to GPs and the Advanced Paramedic as well as the District Nurses.

“Everybody found a way to assist, without fuss, the team worked together for the greater good to ensure that the care provided was of the highest standard. Thanks to the team Jorja suffered no long-term adverse impact from what happened.

“We were all thrilled to see Jorja again and to see her doing so well and happy.”