THE mum of a toddler who had all her limbs amputated after contracting meningitis has thanked medical staff for saving her daughter’s life.

Two-year-old Charlotte Nott was left fighting for survival after being struck down with killer disease.

Now her mum Jenny Daniels, of Horspath, wants to thank the medics who battled around the clock to stop the infection spreading.

The 29-year-old said her daughter first became ill on December 10. Within hours the toddler developed a purple rash.

Later her arms were removed below the elbows and her legs amputated below the knees in a bid to stop the disease spreading.

Miss Daniels called paramedics after carrying out the ‘glass test’, where a glass is applied to the rash to see if it disappears under pressure.

She said: “They acted immediately. They took one look at her and pumped antibiotics into her straight away.

“A doctor later told me if they hadn’t have done that, my little girl would not have survived.”

Miss Daniels, who also has a one-year-old son George with her partner Alex Nott, 29, said as they arrived at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital they were met by a group of medics.

She said: “At one point she had multiple organ failure, she was on kidney dialysis and they were just pumping her full of antibiotics.

“For about three to four days it looked as though she was not going to make it.

“But my Charlotte is a very determined little girl, and she wasn’t going to give up without a fight.”

Now Miss Daniels and Mr Nott hope their daughter will soon be able to walk and dance to her favourite pop music again, with the help of prosthetic limbs.

The couple gave special thanks to paramedics Ann Davies, Dave Willey and Chris Grant, the JR’s Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, and Ronald McDonald House at the Oxford Children’s Hospital, where the family is staying while Charlotte is in hospital.

She also thanked all staff on Robin’s Ward and the Prince of Wales pub in Horspath Road, Cowley, who are holding a collection for Charlotte.

Miss Daniels said: “She’s in bandages at the moment, but she hasn’t asked any questions. Sometimes very young children don’t.

“She is already ordering me around just like before!

“I want to say thanks, but I don’t know how to.

“You read horror stories in the paper about hospitals, but there are no words, and nothing I can give or do, which will ever express how grateful I am to them for saving Charlotte’s life.

“I know each and every one of them will say they were just doing their job, but they need to know how much of a difference it makes. In our situation, that difference was between life and death.”

Meningitis and septicaemia are deadly diseases that can kill in hours.

Meningitis is the inflammation of the lining around the brain and spinal cord, and septicaemia is the blood poisoning form of the disease.

Staff nurse Sophie Webb, who has been caring for Charlotte on Robin’s Ward, said: “She is a very determined and brave little girl.

“This determination has helped her through what has been a very difficult time for her and her family. We are all sure she will go on to do great things in the future.”

These are the signs and symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia (not all will present in individual cases): Fever/vomiting Severe headache Stiff neck Dislike of bright lights Very sleepy/vacant/ difficult to wake Confused/delirious Rash which doesn’t fade under pressure Seizures Limb/joint/muscle pain Cold hands and feet/ shivering Pale or mottled skin Breathing fast/breathless