Cat Deeley had an emotional interview with a young family affected by sepsis on Thursday's This Morning.
The ITV star fought back tears as she and Ben Shephard spoke to eight-year-old William Reckless who had both his legs amputated after battling sepsis in 2020 at the age of three.
As Cat, who is a mum of two boys, spoke to William's mother Gemma about the terrifying moment doctor's told the family about the diagnosis, the presenter fought to compose herself.
Gemma explained: 'The doctors asked me "do you understand what's happening?" and I said "he's got meningitis hasn't he?" And they said "no he's got sepsis" and I just had no idea what that was.'
Cat Deeley had an emotional interview with a young family affected by sepsis on Thursday's This Morning
The ITV star fought back tears as she and Ben Shepherd spoke to eight-year-old William who had both his legs amputated after battling sepsis in 2020 at the age of three
'I just remember thinking "somebody wake me up, it's not happening". Two hours ago we were at home.'
William, who appeared on the ITV show with Gemma, his father Michael and little sister Georgia, became seriously after he developed sepsis while suffering from scarlet fever.
He almost died when his heart stopped and had to be in intensive care for three months as he battled complications, leading to his lower legs and parts of his fingers being amputated.
However, his family said throughout the months of physio the little boy never stopped smiling.
Gemma said that when he was told he would be losing his legs, he seemed to accept everything and he even woke from the amputation with a smile on his face.
He was soon telling doctors and nurses his left leg had been eaten by a crocodile and the right taken by a shark.
In March William walked further than he has ever done before to raise money for charity, walking two miles using his prosthetic legs and cycling a further two miles in a hand-bike for Nottingham Hospitals Charity.
William, from Huthwaite in Nottinghamshire, raised nearly £8,000 via his JustGiving page.
As Cat spoke to his mum Gemma about the terrifying moment doctor's told the family about William's diagnosis, the presenter fought to compose herself
Gemma explained: 'The doctors asked me "do you understand what's happening?" and I said "he's got meningitis hasn't he?" And they said "no he's got sepsis"
Cat looked emotional as Gemma recalled: 'I just remember thinking "somebody wake me up, it's not happening". Two hours ago we were at home'