EXCLUSIVE He always got headaches... but this time was different. I was told my son, 8, would die 20 hours later
When Ashlee Dahlberg's eight-year-old son Liam got off the school bus last month and complained of a headache, she thought little of it.
Prone to allergies, these were a fairly regular occurrence for her middle child, Ashlee told the Daily Mail, and so she gave him some ibuprofen as usual.
Your browser does not support iframes.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
Walking 8 miles every day helped me lose 7st – and keep it off
In 2024, I weighed 18st 12lb. I was a binge eater and a food addict – I had no off switch. I knew I should be making better choices, but once you are on that food train, it is very hard to get off. I had a terrible addiction to secret binge eating. I loved carbohydrates – pasta, potatoes, bread, anything! As I began to have children, I slowly put on weight and was unable to shift it. I also got into a habit of having a cheese sandwich before bed every night. My husband worked away from home half of the week, so once the kids were asleep I'd be able to get away with snacking without anyone around to hold me accountable. As a regional manager in commercial property, I was always on the road. I had a property portfolio to manage so I was always in my car, living off service station meal deals. Maintaining a good diet and getting into shape was just not a priority for me. I had a stressful job and a busy life looking after my daughter, aged 14 and my son, aged 11. I have very active children and I felt the life I was living was not fair to my family. I was not fit enough to participate in any part of family life. In October I was going to turn 40 and I knew that this was it – it was time to make my health a priority. For months I'd been suffering from all sorts of aches and pains: joint pain, back pain – I couldn't walk up a flight of stairs without becoming breathless. I knew I could no longer go on the way I was, something had to change. Then I went on a trip with my son and some friends to France. Naturally, I wanted to live my best life, so I indulged in a lot of wine and cheese. The trip was lovely but it was emotionally draining. My friends, who were all running fanatics and enjoyed staying active, would be up in the mornings to run together and I wasn't able to go because of my health – it was isolating. My friend took a video of me one night, while we were drinking on the balcony of our chalet. When I look back at the video it makes me extremely sad. I was masking my sadness a lot at that point in my life and pretending to be happy but in reality I was devastated about the state of my health. I was not in a good place. It wasn't until I got home from the trip, stood on the scales and saw that I was the biggest I'd ever been, that I put a serious action plan in place. That number I saw on the scales reflected all the health issues I'd been experiencing. It was a defining moment for me. So for my birthday my husband and I were going on an amazing trip to Dubai. The countdown was on – I had seven months to get into shape. At my weight, exercise was not an option, so I committed to walking every day. In the beginning, just getting out there felt good. I was making better choices and felt positive about this new journey I was on. In addition to committing to moving my body every day, I decided to start intermittent fasting on a low-carb diet. To gain inspiration, I made an Instagram account and followed weight loss influencers. I noticed that there weren't any prominent UK health influencers who were losing weight in the same way that I was. I had significantly limited my eating window – I'd fast for 18 hours a day and eat between 1pm and 7pm. I truly believe that fasting worked so well for me because when I was addicted, I was so consumed with food that this method allowed me to control my eating habits. I used to binge so much during the evening that by cutting off my supply of food at 7pm, I was forced to occupy my time with something else. At first it was so hard to find the strength to control myself but the results were so transformative that it became a way of life for me. I still fast every single day because I will never ever go back to the way I was before now that I have this new found life. I've also significantly cut down on carbohydrates in my diet – while before I might've opted for potatoes or bread with my meal, now I focus on protein like eggs. One day a friend said to me: 'Alex, why don't you blog about your weight loss journey? It will hold you accountable and track your progress,' so I turned my Instagram account into a weight loss diary called 'theweightlosswife'. The impending trip to Dubai motivated my decision, but the Instagram page added excitement to the journey. I met a lovely community that was incredibly supportive and followed me every step of the way. I decided not to tell any friends or family about the page, or my goal as I didn't want to feel monitored: I wanted to work at my own pace and feel confident in the progress I was making. Getting started When you are as unfit as I was, even going for a walk is hard work. I started from absolutely nothing and downloaded the Couch to 5k app. Rain or shine, I went on a walk just to get my steps in. In the beginning, it did not matter how many steps I got in, just that I got out. It was an absolute struggle – I did not enjoy it at all. I had to really push myself and eventually the more I did it, the more I found myself actually enjoying it. When the weight begins to drop off and your body begins to change, it feels really good – it becomes quite addictive. Once moving got a bit easier, I began to set myself targets for the amount of steps I needed to get in each day. I started at 3,000 to 5,000 steps, then 10,000 steps, and now I do 20,000 steps a day (about eight miles). There is a walking track around the back of my house which I use to take my dog out for a walk at least twice a day, and then I go to the gym after work. I just try to walk absolutely everywhere, especially on the weekend – by Friday I've had enough of being in my car! I began to see a positive change in my body after three weeks and I started to feel great. When I was heavier I avoided social situations because I couldn't find anything to wear. I also hated people taking pictures of me, so I actively avoided them. Since losing the weight, my confidence has grown so much and I find it extremely enjoyable to visit different places and to meet up with friends and family. I'm now 11st 7lb and have never felt better after losing 7st. After a couple of weeks, I also noticed the health benefits: I had a lot more energy, I wasn't as tired and my joint pain eased up. Also, I'd always struggled with constant heartburn and acid reflux but that completely disappeared once I started eating better. My family and friends have been so supportive and encouraging. They can see that I've got a whole new life – I'm out every weekend, spending time with my family and engaging in activities that I just could not participate in before. I feel like now I can capture all these moments that I couldn't before. I have noticed that people treat me differently since I lost weight. I used to tend to fall into the background. I had these long hair extensions to somewhat mask my size, but since losing weight, I embraced my bob and feel more confident in my skin. To push myself, at the end of April, my husband, a group of friends and I decided to climb Snowdon. It was the most exhilarating, rewarding experience, and I was so proud of my progress. The whole way up I was worried that I wouldn't be able to do it – that I wasn't as fit as I thought. The experience made me realise how far I'd come with my fitness and once I got to the top after two hours of climbing, I was astonished at myself. Following that life-changing experience, I signed up for Macmillan's Jurassic Coast Mighty Hike in July, and the Great South Run in October. I also placed a ballot for the 2026 London Marathon, my next big goal. To run the marathon would be a bucket list activity for my life and I'll be devastated if I don't get in. Runners get informed whether their entry was successful or not in July, but I've read that this year has seen a record number of ballot entries, so I think my chances are unlikely. I feel like I'm still on my journey – it is not over just because I've lost weight. I want to focus on the fitness side of my well-being now and use my Instagram to spread knowledge and awareness. I've gained 56,700 followers in the space of a year, and I'm so proud of what I've managed to achieve in such a short space of time. What I ate before Breakfast Cheese toastie and a coffee from a Starbucks on the side of the motorway. Lunch Prawn Mayo or BLT sandwich, a packet of crisps and a Pepsi Max (I used to drink two to three cans a day). Dinner Cheesy pasta or something with chips. I also had a fair amount of takeaways on the weekend. Alcohol Fizz, vodka cranberry or a gin and tonic. What I eat now Breakfast Egg white omelette with cream cheese, smoked salmon and a side of grapefruit and strawberries. Snack Fruits – grapefruit, passion fruit, strawberries, oranges. Dinner Steak with courgette, rocket and parmesan. Alcohol Stayed the same – it's the one thing I didn't change, but I don't drink at home.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Gemma Collins 'feels like she's dying' amid devastating battle with pneumonia as she's left struggling to breathe and forced to undergo X-rays at home
Gemma Collins has confessed she feels like she's 'dying' amid her devastating battle with pneumonia in a latest health update. The former TOWIE star, 44, revealed earlier this week that she'd battling the condition for almost a month, before taking to her Instagram Stories on Friday showing herself undergoing X-rays at her Essex home. Gemma explained that her condition had been leaving her breathless 'really quickly' but due to medics diagnosing it as viral, antibiotics would be ineffective. She told The Mirror: 'It's shocking, I've had it now for over three weeks and I had steroids given to me by my doctor. It was DJ Fat Tony's wedding and I had to take them to get through that,' 'But I'm off them now and the sickness is really kicking back in. It's so frustrating because I normally have so much energy and I'm always loving life, but now I get really breathless really quickly and I feel like I'm dying.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. She revealed earlier this week that she'd battling the condition for almost a month, before taking to her Instagram Stories showing herself undergoing X-rays at her Essex home Pneumonia is inflammation of the lungs, usually caused by an infection. Most people get better in two to four weeks, but babies, older people, and people with heart or lung conditions are at risk of getting seriously ill and may need treatment in hospital. Taking to her Stories Gemma shared snaps as she underwent X-rays while praising medical staff for their care. She wrote: 'Thank you to all the amazing doctors helping me your real life angels'. Announcing the news of her condition on Wednesday, Gemma shared a photo of herself in bed looking poorly in bed. She wrote: 'Hey guys sorry been quiet i have Pneumonia. I'm not as fast or on it as I usually am on the daily. 'I am still honouring my work commitments which is taking every bit of energy I have but will be back entertaining you all soon.' On her Story she added an update as she showed she was on a drip and had been visited by a doctor. One post that showed a drip in her arm read: 'I'm having to take it easy which is not like me very slow and get so out of breath and tired so quick.' Gemma also shared a snap with her pet pooch Gucci who she said was 'giving her lots of cuddles.' Another showed a doctor at her house as she said: 'Thank you to everyone helping me I've had pneumonia for three weeks and honestly can't thank everyone all the docs helping me.' It comes after just last week she was seen in good spirits attending the Chelsea Flower Show. Gemma, who has gone from a size 26 to a size 20 in just three months on weight loss jab Mounjaro, displayed her slimmer frame in a sheer gown with caped sleeves that she wore over a slip. She also attended DJ Fat Tony's wedding over the weekend where she was a bridesmaid. It comes after the star claimed she's 'saving the NHS ' by taking Mounjaro after losing a 'life-changing' two stone. Gemma said she'll no longer need to go to the NHS with an 'obesity related illness' thanks to the help of the medication. Announcing the news of her condition on Wednesday, she wrote: 'Hey guys sorry been quiet i have Pneumonia. I'm not as fast or on it as I usually am on the daily. She revealed in January that she'd been taking the NHS approved Mounjaro injections and has left fans stunned with her incredible transformation. She told The Mirror: 'I've lost so much weight, you wouldn't believe it. It's the only thing I've managed to lose weight on without putting myself on a stressful diet. 'I think I'm actually saving the NHS. I won't be going to the NHS with an obesity related illness so I won't be putting any strain on it. I'm loving life, honey.' WHAT IS PNEUMONIA? Pneumonia is a type of chest infection that affects the tiny air sacs in the lungs. The condition causes these sacs to be become inflammed and fill with fluid, making it harder to breathe. Pneumonia is caused by bacteria or viruses, with the most common being Streptococcus pneumoniae. It affects between five and 11 out of every 1,000 adults every year in the UK. Anyone can suffer from pneumonia, however, at-risk groups include: Babies and young children People over 65 Those with long-term heart, lung or kidney disease People with cancer, particularly those having chemotherapy Smokers Those on drugs that suppress their immune systems Antibiotics or mechanical ventilator use in hospitals also raise the risk. Symptoms include Coughing up mucus Fever Chest pain Loss of appetite Fatigue In severe cases, sufferers may cough up blood, vomit or have a rapid heart rate. Treatment is usually antibiotics, which may need to be given intravenously in hospital in severe cases.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Teen who dreamed of being famous dies in deadly 'dusting' challenge
An Arizona teen has died after taking part in a deadly 'dusting' social media challenge. Renna O'Rourke, 19, who dreamed of being famous, died on Sunday following a week-long stay in intensive care. Also known as 'huffing' or 'chroming,' dusting involves participants inhaling aerosols such as keyboard cleaners. Renna O'Rourke, 19, died on Sunday afternoon following a week long stay inside an intensive care unit The teenager initially went into cardiac arrest and was later declared brain dead after inhaling the cleaning product The teenager initially went into cardiac arrest and was later declared brain dead after using a cleaning product. Speaking with AZFamily, her father Aaron O'Rourke said his daughter always dreamed of being a star. 'She always said, "I'm gonna be famous, Dad. Just you watch. I'm gonna be famous," and unfortunately this is not under the most optimal of circumstances.' Aaron and his wife Dana shared their daughter's story in an attempt to raise awareness, having never heard of the social media craze. Dana added: 'There's no ID required. It's odorless. It's everything kids look for. They can afford it, they can get it, and it doesn't show in mom and dad's drug test.' According to Dana, Renna and her boyfriend managed to use an app delivery service to have the cleaner sent to their door. She told 12news: '[Renna] and her boyfriend had Door Dashed product to my house and I didn't know. It's keyboard cleaner. I didn't know what they were doing with it. 'We want to make sure that we use our tragedy so that no other parent has to experience looking at their child on life support and a ventilator and not breathing on her own all because she huffed out of a can.' Dr Randy Weisman, with the HonorHealth Scottsdale Osborn Medical Center, told AZFamily: 'This is extremely concerning. 'When they inhale these chemicals in the gas it will actually replace the oxygen within their lungs and within the rest of their body.' According to Weisman the effect makes the users feel drunk or euphoric for a few minutes, during which the damage done can often be irreversible and deadly. He told the outlet that liver failure, heart failure and disease of the lungs are all possible outcomes. The only light to come from their daughter's passing, her parents said, was that her organs have gone on to save at least six lives. Her parents Dana and Aaron, pictured here, are now on a mission to raise awareness over the deadly trend The only light to come from their daughter's passing, her parents said, was that her organs have gone on to save at least six lives Dana added: 'Through that we're finding strength and purpose. She will be unbelievably missed, leaving the most aching hole in our lives. 'But if her life is to mean anything, we are going to do what we can to prevent somebody else's child from being where ours is right now. Her family have since created a GoFundMe page, which can be found here, to help them cover medical and funeral expenses. A post to the fundraiser said: 'On Sunday, June 1st at 1:30 pm, our wonderful daughter, after 4 days in the ICU, was pronounced brain dead. 'She was the light in every room she walked into, and the pain that her family and friends feel is simply immeasurable. 'We want to use the proceeds of this fundraiser to cover the extensive medical bills, burial costs, therapy costs, and to spread awareness about the dangers of Huffing/Dusting, the practice of inhaling keyboard cleaner or similar.' Last September the deadly trend was brought up by concerned doctors at the American Academy of Pediatrics annual conference in Orlando, Florida. They urged other doctors and parents to be sure they are aware of the trend in order to better protect children. In research, which was presented at the conference, a team analyzed 109 videos from social media of chroming which had 25 million views. They found that permanent markers were the most common chroming item, appearing in 31 per cent of the videos. Air dusters were the second most common, in 17 per cent of videos, followed by nail polish, 12 per cent, paint thinner, gasoline and spray deodorant, 11 per cent for each. About six per cent of the videos analyzed also showed users sniffing hair spray. More than half of the videos referenced repeated usage or addiction.
