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Our Leicester Children’s Hospital Appeal will support families across Leicestershire, Rutland and the wider East Midlands for years to come.
For so many children and young people, like 14-year-old Alex, our children’s services are literally life-saving.
Alex’s mum, Karen, is usually a private person. But to help show how important our Leicester Children’s Hospital Appeal is to her and her family, Karen says that if sharing their story helps to support the appeal, then she is happy to tell it.
“Alex’s story began in December 2011 when he was five years old. He collapsed on the bathroom floor with severe breathing difficulties. As a diagnosed asthmatic, we were used to managing Alex’s attacks with inhalers and the occasional trip to urgent care and the Emergency Department. But this particular episode he had been poorly for several weeks and we were finding it hard to manage his symptoms.
“We never imagined how quickly he would deteriorate.
“The ambulance crew were with us rapidly to take us to Kettering General Hospital. The ambulance crew said the resuscitation team were waiting for Alex on arrival. They worked hard to stabilise him and told us that he was in a serious condition.
“Alex needed a hospital with a Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). They tried to find a bed for him anywhere in the country. We were so relieved to hear that Leicester’s Hospitals had a bed available. As this was our local hospital, it meant that we could visit him every day and continue to care for our older son.
“It took five hours to stabilise Alex. An intensive care ambulance arrived with two paediatric doctors to escort him back to Leicester. It was very dangerous and very scary. We weren’t even able to travel with Alex because of the amount of equipment that was needed in the ambulance to keep him alive.
“When we arrived at Leicester and found the PICU, we were beside ourselves with worry. An intensive care unit is somewhere that you would never want to find yourself.
“Alex looked so tiny in the bed, surrounded by machines they were doing the vital job of breathing for him. The staff who were caring for Alex were so kind and calm. They watched him around the clock, but they always made sure to look after us too.
“Alex was on intensive care for three days. He survived because of the care and expertise of the Leicester Children’s Hospital staff and because of availability of the equipment that he needed. We will be eternally thankful for this.
“Alex recovered slowly in hospital and at home. He had amazing ongoing care and support from his GP and the consultants at Leicester’s Hospitals. He also became part of a research project investigating why some children are so severely affected with some respiratory viruses. He was eventually diagnosed with a near-fatal asthma attack, caused by an unknown virus.
“We are pleased to report that Alex is now 14-years-old and is fit and strong. He is six foot tall and plays football and runs for the local athletics club. He cannot remember anything about his time on intensive care, apart from meeting the Leicester Tigers rugby team and our trips to the café for a cake when he was recovering on the high dependency unit and the ward.
“We have obviously been concerned about him with the outbreak of coronavirus and now more than ever it is vital that there is all the equipment possible for the Leicester Children’s Hospital staff to help look after patients and give them the treatment they need.
“We were more than happy to donate to Leicester Children’s Hospital Appeal to support the amazing life-saving treatment they provide. We would urge everyone like us – parents, families and even those who aren’t – to support the appeal to make sure the children’s services in our city are as good as all of our children deserve them to be.”
