'Perfect' girl dies months after appendix surgery

A mother has described how her six-year-old "perfect daughter" became seriously ill with sepsis and died seven months after having her appendix removed.

After Ruby Trussler, from Harlow, Essex, felt unwell in October 2024, doctors at Princess Alexandra Hospital discovered abdominal adhesion, where a band of scar tissue sticks organs or tissues together.

Ruby's parents switched off her life support after her condition worsened, describing it as "the hardest thing we've ever done".

Sharon McNally, chief nurse and deputy chief executive at the Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, said: "We offer our deepest condolences on the sad loss of Ruby and our thoughts continue to be with her family."

An inquest into Ruby's death is due to open at Essex Coroner's Court on 15 May.

Her mother Emma Trussler, 45, said Ruby had surgery to remove her appendix in March 2024.

Months later, in October, Ruby started complaining of stomach pains and had begun vomiting.

Staff at Princess Alexandra Hospital then found the abdominal adhesion, which is listed by the NHS as a possible, although rare, complication of surgery for appendicitis.

Ruby was transferred to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge the following morning as her condition had worsened.

Surgeons there tried to remove the adhesion, but found it had blocked blood flow to Ruby's left leg, which was then amputated.

The six-year-old was also found to have sepsis and never regained consciousness following the amputation and a procedure on 10 October to relieve pressure and drain fluid from her stomach.

As her condition further worsened, she was also struggling to breathe.

"They'd tried everything and we thought we couldn't do this to her anymore," Ms Trussler said. "Enough was enough. We had to make that decision."

On 11 October, her parents chose to withdraw life support.

"The whole family was able to say goodbye to her," Ms Trussler said. "It was the hardest thing we've ever done. She was the perfect daughter."

Doctors listed her cause of death as multiple organ failure caused by sepsis.

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust's Ms McNally said: "We are unable to comment on individual cases, however, we have fully investigated the circumstances surrounding Ruby's care and treatment at our hospital and with our partner organisations.

"We are committed to ensuring that learning from any incident is part of our focus on continuous improvement."

Following Ruby's death, a friend set up an online fundraiser to raise money for a family trip to Disneyland Paris.

"Ruby's dream was to go to Disneyland," Ms Trussler said.

"It's so sad she'll never go, but our whole family is going on her birthday in November this year to remember her."

Since Ruby's death, Ms Trussler has raised more than £18,000 for Sepsis UK and, in May, she will be attempting the Three Peaks Challenge.

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