Clitheroe boy has leg amputated after battle with strep A

Jake Bond, from Clitheroe, was left fighting for his life after catching the infection back in December.

He spent four weeks in the hospital fighting the infection which later developed into sepsis, a life-threatening reaction to an infection which happens when your immune system overreacts to an infection and starts to damage your body's own tissues and organs.

Jake Bond in hospital after catching strep A (Image: Victoria Bond)

Jake’s mum, Victoria Bond, said she is just grateful he is alive, and the family is now waiting for him to get his bionic leg.

She said: “We are so lucky that Jake is still with us and that he survived strep A, but at the same time he lost his leg.

“His toes had died back in December when all of this began so we knew some amputation was going to happen, we just didn't know how much of the leg they were going to save.

“At that time all that mattered was Jake’s life.”

Jake Bond with mum Victoria (Image: Victoria Bond)

After several surgeries and attempts to save the leg through skin grafts and debridement, the only option left was a through-knee amputation.

Victoria said: “When surgery day arrived it was a lot for us all to deal with we are still going through a whirlwind.

“Normal life no longer feels real as we have lost a bit of our boy.”

Despite the drastic life change Victoria said Jake is coping with the amputation well.

She said: “Jake told the surgeons on the day to send his leg up to the rainbow as he wanted it to run free, he also wanted to be free from it and free from pain.

“Jake woke up from surgery and wanted to see his stump, he called it Peanut as that's what it looked like.

“He is a true hero, he has his good days and bad but his strong, independent self and silly sense of humour has got him through this.”

Victoria said it has been a challenging time for her and the family.

She said: “As a mum it's been an extremely exhausting, challenging and traumatic time.

“It never seems to end, and I have another child who is also disabled. It's just the three of us living together but I do have a very small tight-knit family unit.

“I am truly thankful for all my friends and family who has pulled us through this.

Jake Bond in hospital (Image: Victoria Bond)

“Jake can't wait to get his bionic leg soon and hopes to return to school and be able to do all the things he has missed out on. He just wants to be a six-year-old again.

“We are closing one chapter of Jake's story and starting a fresh new one.”

Jake Bond after leg was amputated (Image: Victoria Bond)

According to the NHS, strep A are bacteria commonly found on the skin or in the throat. Under some circumstances these bacteria can cause disease.

Common symptoms of strep A include:

• flu-like symptoms, such as a high temperature, swollen glands or an aching body
• sore throat (strep throat or tonsillitis)
• a rash that feels rough, like sandpaper (scarlet fever)
• scabs and sores (impetigo)
• pain and swelling (cellulitis)
• severe muscle aches
• nausea and vomiting

Strep A infections are more common in children, but adults can also sometimes get them.

Most strep A infections are not serious and can be treated with antibiotics.

Sometimes the infection can cause serious problems. This is called invasive group A strep (iGAS).