Family 'living a nightmare' when two-year-old falls ill on holiday in Portugal
A family say they are stranded in Portugal after their toddler fell seriously ill and is unable to even sit up.
Two-year-old Theo Jones became poorly while holidaying with parents Sarah and Paul and little sister Mali in the Algarve. The youngster is currently in hospital with a suspected brain condition - as the family says insurers can't cover the cost of bringing him home to be treated.
Theo went from jumping and playing in the pool at the family's hotel to suddenly vomiting and being unable to walk or talk, Sarah says, after falling and hitting his head three days into their three-week trip last week. Paediatric neurologists at the hospital in Faro where he's been moved have diagnosed him with a possible brain virus.
An initial CT scan of Theo's brain didn't show any serious injuries, but he soon began vomiting again after being discharged. Sarah, from Maesteg, Wales, was horrified to find her son was floppy and wouldn't wake the following morning and the family rushed him back to the hospital.
Theo had been running around and playing hours before falling ill (UGCWales Online / Media Wales)
The toddler is currently in hospital in Faro, Portugal (UGCWales Online / Media Wales)“We watched him like a hawk all night and in the morning when we tried to rouse him he was barely there," she told Wales Online. Doctors initially diagnosed Theo with gastroenteritis, but the family pleaded with staff to carry out an MRI scan which revealed an infection in the back area of his brain, the cerebellum.
Baby boy has spent his life in hospital as doctors are 'scared' to discharge him
“He could not communicate or move. he was trying to speak and pleading, but couldn’t,” said Sarah, “It was harrowing and horrific because it was like he couldn’t form his words and he is a phenomenal speaker normally."
Medics have told the family that Theo's suspected virus may be unrelated to the fall, the timing of which may have been coincidental, and could take weeks or even months to recover from. Sarah however disagrees, saying her son had been running around just hours before he tripped.
“He fell on the front of his head not the back, but it seems to have been triggered by the fall. We are just desperate to get him home.” The couple's five-month-old daughter Mali is currently being cared for by their parents, who were also out there on holiday, as they claim insurers AXA have left them with "no choice" but to go public.
“How can an emergency repatriation to the UK for a two-year-old not be treated with the utmost urgency?" said Sarah. “I was actually told by AXA that if his condition worsens or he deteriorates they could look into an emergency repatriation. Why not transfer him when he’s stable.”
AXA had confirmed the family would be covered when contacted on Monday, but two days later they asked for Theo's reports to be translated before further stalling, saying they would wait to see if he improved.
Sarah added: “We are spending every day at the hospital. Theo is a bit more comfortable but there is no real change or progress. It’s exhausting and emotional. He is sleeping a lot but does not seem in so much pain.”
An AXA Partners spokesperson said: “We are very sorry to hear that Mr and Mrs Jones’ son has been taken ill and we sympathise with their situation. Our priority is to ensure the family can return to the UK at the appropriate time, and we are working with the treating facility to ensure their son receives the level of care required.
"At this time, medical professionals are monitoring his condition and we are preparing for the repatriation to the UK. We are in regular contact with Mrs Jones, who is being supported by a dedicated team.” The Mirror contacted AXA for comment.
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