It all happened so quickly that devastating day in November, 1996. The shock and despair of the trauma will remain with me for life. My long-awaited son Ian was born in September 1991. He was and still is a loving boy with a cheeky sense of humour, who I adore and love endlessly.
At the age of 4, diabetes was diagnosed and so off to the hospital it was. We spent a week in the hospital learning all about diabetes and how to inject insulin and do blood monitoring tests on the fingers. Worst of all for me, was how to control a diabetic ‘diet’, this I don’t do!
Everything was ticking along just fine until the young girl in the next bed, unaware to herself, was about to break out in ‘chickenpox’. Little did I know then how this was going to have a devastating impact on my son’s life and mine.
Once Ian was discharged from hospital back home, it was to continue life as normal. So we thought. Two days later, Ian had developed a croaky voice. I took him to the doctors who prescribed some medicine. I was told to keep an eye on him. Later that day, I thought he was sleeping it off. Little did I know he was in a coma.
I phoned the ambulance who rushed us to the hospital with great speed. After Ian was resuscitated, the doctors hit me with the devastating news that Ian had suffered a stroke and was brain damaged.
Ian was sedated and taken to Great Ormond Street Hospital. My lovely son, Ian, how could this have happened to you and why. That is a question I have been trying to come to terms with for many years.
Ian spent the next few weeks in Intensive Care, the stroke and brain damage was caused by the virus ‘Encephalitis’, a swelling of the brain caused by the herpes virus chickenpox.
With the help of many professionals and the support of my family, Ian began to make steady progress to recovery. After coming to through this tragic experience, Ian had been left with multiple problems and is now a severe epileptic. On one visit to Great Ormond Street Hospital, it was suggested that Ian should be placed in a school for his needs. This school was a turning point for both of us.
Ian started his new school in September 1999, the ‘National Centre for Young People with Epilepsy’, formerly St Piers in Surrey. He has developed a cheeky character and really enjoyed his time there. He made many friends and had a very active social life.
Having found Inspire Neurocare, it has changed our lives even further. It has enabled me to see Ian on a regular basis and we both need that contact. It is truly an ‘inspiring place’ with amazing, caring staff who actually care!!!
As for me, I came through this experience with a different outlook on life and was it not for this, I wouldn’t be here today. For many years, I couldn’t see a light at the end of the tunnel, but when I eventually found it, it opened up a whole new world for me and I’ve not looked back since.
Mother of a resident at Anchor Point Neurological Centre in Southampton.
