Wigan family 'incredibly grateful' for the care given to their son when he became seriously ill with sepsis
Archie Musgrave touched the hearts of people across Wigan when he fell ill eight years ago. Since then, more than £14,000 has been raised for the hospital that cared for him.
A Wigan family is marking Sepsis Awareness Month by sharing their gratitude for the life-saving care given to their son.
Kate and Joe Musgrave, from Hindley Green, have raised more than £14,000 for Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital over the past eight years to help other children and families.
Staff at the hospital cared for their son Archie as he had a life-threatening case of sepsis when he was just five years old.
In 2018, Archie became seriously unwell and was diagnosed with meningitis B, which later developed into sepsis.
Mum Kate said: “He went to school that day and that evening his legs were really achy and he had a temperature. He had a headache too.
“I gave him paracetamol and ibuprofen but it didn’t bring his temperature down. He was just lying on the bed with no energy.
“He kept complaining his legs were sore to touch. I didn’t know if he had done too much at school that day.”
Archie’s condition worsened and his parents took him to hospital, where he started projectile vomiting, had diarrhea and developed a rash.
He was diagnosed as having a viral infection and sent home, but his worried parents returned to the hospital in the early hours as he continued to deteriorate.
He was transferred to the paediatric intensive care unit at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, where he spent five days in a coma.
Archie received further specialist care and rehabilitation before eventually being discharged home two weeks later.
Eight years later, Archie is doing well, but continues to attend the hospital for regular check-ups, operations, physiotherapy and occupational therapy.
Kate said: “He’s doing amazingly well and doesn’t let anything hold him back. He’s always had a really good head on his shoulders through operations over the years and always aimed to get back on his feet as quickly as possible.”
Determined to give back to the team that cared for Archie, Kate and her family have rallied friends, relatives and the community to raise money for the hospital.
Their fund-raising efforts have included a fun day in Hindley, which raised more than £5,000, Archie’s grandfather Ste climbing Cat Bells in the Lake District, his grandmother Cathy taking part in a sponsored head shave that raised just under £1,500 and an Easter egg collection organised by family and friends.
More recently, Westhoughton Golf Club - where Archie’s grandmother Ann works as a catering manager - helped the family continue their fund-raising after choosing to support the hospital throughout 2025.
The club raised more than £4,000 through a range of activities, including a captain’s charity day, raffles, a tombola and golf ball sales.
Kate said: “Archie’s illness changed our lives overnight. Seeing our little boy so seriously unwell and fighting for his life was the most frightening time we have ever experienced as a family.
“The support we received from hospital staff was fantastic. Their care for Archie throughout such a difficult time truly meant the world to us and helped us through some of our darkest days. We will always be incredibly grateful for the care and compassion our family received.
“That’s why we’re still fund-raising for the hospital all these years later. We want to give something back to the team who cared for Archie and help make sure other children and families can receive the same support when they need it most. We are so proud to be able to support the hospital and the incredible work it does for patients and families.”
Kate said it was important to have specialist children’s healthcare, as it can make a real difference for youngsters.
Anna Rosehill, relationship officer for Manchester Foundation Trust Charity, which raises money for Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, said: “Archie’s story shows the long-lasting impact that specialist care can have on children and their families.
“The generosity of supporters like Archie’s family, Westhoughton Golf Club and the wider community help us fund equipment, research and projects that make a difference for children and families cared for at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.
“We are extremely grateful to Archie, Kate and their family for all of their fantastic fund-raising efforts!”
September is Sepsis Awareness Month, with World Sepsis Day on September 13.
Kate urged parents to look out for the symptoms of the illness in their own children, highlighting that Archie became ill “so quickly”.
The UK Sepsis Trust says sepsis is a life-threatening condition that arises when the body’s response to an infection injures its own tissues and organs, with the immune system going into overdrive.
It can lead to shock, multiple organ failure and even death if not recognised and treated promptly.
Its website lists signs of sepsis in children as: breathing very fast; having a “fit” or convulsion; looking mottled, bluish or pale — on brown and black skin, colour changes may show on the inside of the forearms or palms; having a rash that does not fade when you press it; being very lethargic or difficult to wake; and feeling abnormally cold to touch.
For adults, they could have: slurred speech or confusion; extreme shivering or muscle pain; passing no urine (in a day); severe breathlessness; feeling like they are going to die; and skin mottled or discoloured.
The website advises calling 111 or contacting a GP if you are worried about an infection, or calling 999 or visiting A&E if you or someone else has symptoms of sepsis.
For more information, visit the UK Sepsis Trust’s website.
To find out more about raising money for Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, visit its website.