The lack of knowledge around periods has caused one more death, after a 16-year-old girl from United Kingdom consumed contraceptive pills to ease period pain as suggested by one of her friends. Within 48 hours of intake, the girl was diagnosed with stomach bug and later discovered a blood clot in the brain which caused her death.
Layla Khan, aged 16, had started taking contraceptive pills to ease period symptoms on November 25 and after a week she started seeing effects on her body including headaches and vomiting. As per the family, as she was vomiting in every 30 minutes, she was taken to the nearest hospital by calling 111 National Health Service helpline where she was diagnosed with stomach bug.
Layla’s aunt had said, “On the Sunday night, she was being sick, a lot. She was basically vomiting every 30 minutes. So we got a GP appointment on a Monday morning. Even though she was being sick the whole time she was at the GP’s, they gave her anti-sickness tablets and told her that they thought it was a stomach bug. They said there was no red flags, and to go to the hospital on Wednesday if it continued.”
Later, Layla, a teenager, faced a sudden decline in her health. She started experiencing severe pain, and her family, concerned for her, decided to take her to the hospital. However, Layla collapsed in the bathroom and had difficulty with her legs. Her family rushed her to the nearest hospital in Grimsby, where a CT scan revealed a blood clot in her brain. Despite undergoing surgery on December 13, Layla was declared brain-dead the following day.
Layla’s family is devastated by this unexpected turn of events, especially as it happened so close to Christmas. Layla had recently started college, secured a job, and was regarded as a potential Oxford student by her professors. The family is struggling to comprehend why there were no apparent warning signs, only for Layla to be declared brain-dead the next day. The shock has taken away the Christmas spirit for them.
In the midst of their grief, Layla’s family made a generous decision—they chose to donate Layla’s organs for transplant operations. Remarkably, Layla’s organs have contributed to saving five lives just days before Christmas. This act of kindness is a poignant reminder of Layla’s lasting impact.
