Simon Walker
When Simon was 15 months old, in March 1998, he woke up one evening in the same way that many children of his age do. A drink of water failed to settle him, so his mother, Jane, brought him downstairs. At first he seemed fine, but then as he tried to walk around the room he was unable to support his weight on the left leg. Slightly alarmed by this, Jane took him to the A&E at the local hospital, who thought that he might have an irritated hip joint, and if he was not better in 2 days she was to bring him back.
The next morning, we noticed that the whole of Simon's left side was paralysed - he was unable to use his left arm, and the left side of his face was unable to move. This was clearly more than a hip problem. In my mind his symptoms were similar to a stroke, but only old people had strokes. We took him to our GP, who immediately referred him to the paediatric ward at Watford General Hospital. Later that day, they did a CT scan that confirmed what I had been thinking - he had had a stroke. This was probably almost as new an experience for them as for us. Then we had a real bit of luck - Fenella Kirkham from Great Ormond Street Hospital was visiting Watford that day. She saw us an hour later, and having reviewed the images from the scan and asked us some questions, offered us the opportunity to move straight to Great Ormond Street. She suspected that the cause of Simon's stroke was linked to chicken pox he had had a couple of months earlier.
Simon spent 4 nights at Great Ormond Street, and then was allowed home. He has almost made a full recovery - anyone meeting him now wouldn't know there had been any problem. He has to take half an aspirin twice a week to keep his blood thin, but otherwise there are no restrictions on what he can do.
We were lucky. However, our GP's actions were critical - he referred without any hesitation to hospital. The staff at Watford General were wonderful, and did all they could. Simon was in the best children's hospital in the world within 12 hours of walking in to the GP's surgery. This experience was traumatic for us, his parents, but the way the medical professionals acted was fantastic - no procrastination, no waffle - just action.
Derek Walker
Thanks to Derek for sending in his son's profile. Anyone else who would like to share their story can send it along with a photograph (if you're not shy!)
- c/o PROFILES,
- Click here for address
