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For little Ryan (1) from Broken Hill in Australia, the morning after his first birthday in early December 2022 starts badly. His nose is running and he has a sore throat. However, there is no reason for parents to worry for the time being. You suspect a harmless cold. But far from that.
“In the afternoon he had a slightly elevated temperature and was no longer himself,” Ryan’s mother Jessica L.* (30) told Australian broadcaster ABC News. “He was very clingy, whiny and quite withdrawn.” The boy also no longer had the strength to walk.
“We were flown by plane to the nearest major city”
At least now the parents realize that there is probably more going on than a stuffy nose. So they go to the hospital as quickly as possible. However, there is no reason for doctors to worry. Ryan probably just caught a virus or his teeth are growing. The young parents then return home.
But they are not reassured. The two Australians feel that something is very wrong with their son. So the next morning they start the journey to the hospital again. This time they want to have further research carried out.
And indeed: the consequences are disastrous. Ryan’s condition is now life-threatening, so the doctors are also raising the alarm. “Before we knew it, we were being flown to the nearest major city because our little boy’s condition had deteriorated so quickly,” the mother recalled.
Blood poisoning led to tissue death
The darkest hours of their lives now begin for the parents. The one-year-old child is being treated in hospital. When Ryan went into cardiac arrest for ten minutes, doctors immediately began CPR. The action runs smoothly. Soon after, doctors discovered the cause of Ryan’s suffering. The boy had suffered blood poisoning as a result of a streptococcal infection.
Streptococci are bacteria transmitted by coughing, sneezing or contact with infected wounds and can cause lung and throat infections, as well as infections of the skin, bloodstream and heart valves.
In Ryan’s case, the pathogen caused blood poisoning, causing tissue death in his hands and lower legs. The doctors therefore had only one solution to save the boy’s life. They were forced to amputate both his lower legs and some fingertips.
Fundraising campaign eases financial burden on family
Today, about eight months after surgery, Ryan has recovered from the procedure. “He’s doing quite well. “He had moments where he was a little frustrated, but he’s a cheeky boy of almost two,” his mother says.
But Ryan is not completely healed yet. Further operations are planned in the coming months. To be well prepared for the costs, the parents have set up a fundraising campaign. Within a very short time, the impressive amount of 75,000 francs was raised.
Parents want to make the house barrier-free
“It’s just wonderful that we have this support, this hope that we can help Ryan in any way in the future,” the mother said. They also want to use the money to make their home barrier-free, as Ryan will soon need a wheelchair.
Looking back, the parents still can’t quite believe what happened to them about a year ago. “It’s crazy to think he had a runny nose and it developed into something so serious.” (ced)
*Name known
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
