An E. coli outbreak in Tennessee sickened a dozen children and nearly killed two young siblings. 

The Schiding children, an 18-month-old and a 3-year-old, contracted the illness by drinking raw milk, their parents said.  

They spent two weeks in the pediatric intensive care unit in a Knox County hospital.

The small children were eventually diagnosed with HUS, or Hemolytic-uremic syndrome, a potentially deadly condition often caused by infections like E. coli.

“At that point, I realized how serious it was and that we could lose not only one but both of our kids at the same time, and I just broke down,” said their dad Jordan Schiding.

“To see her like that was just, I mean, I don’t even know how to explain it,” said mom Stephanie Schiding. 

The Schiding children are home, but two other Knox County children remained hospitalized as of Monday, one in intensive care.

In all, 12 youngsters were infected by E. coli from two separate sources, said Knox County health officials. 

Seven were exposed through drinking raw milk, and five through an undisclosed source at a daycare.