03 January 2024 , 20:40
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A mum knew something was wrong with her young boy when his eyes started to look "puffy", it was reported.
Henri Brammer first began complaining of a headache, he was still his "usual self". But after attributing it to typical Christmas over-excitement, his mum Carly started to think something serious was wrong because his eyes looked "puffy" and he was lethargic. When he was rushed to his local A&E surgery in Stoke in December 2022, his situation rapidly deteriorated.
Although doctors said it was viral, a CT scan revealed that the boy needed major surgery. The following day he was taken to Alder Hey. Carly said that at that moment their "world collapsed". They were told their nine-year-old son had a huge ball of puss on his brain.
In less than four weeks, the young boy needed to have three major surgical procedures whilst his parents "prayed" for his life. Soon results indicated that Henry was suffering from Strep A, which led to the Empyema of the brain.
Henri Brammer holding an Aldery Hey cheque (Carly Brammer)
Henri Brammer first began complaining of a headache (Carly Brammer)um Carly told the Liverpool Echo.: "When we got the all clear and he was allowed home, he instantly wanted to start fundraising. We went back to Alder Hey on December 20 with over £25,000 and went onto the ward and he bought the nurses chocolates and a Costa.
Baby boy has spent his life in hospital as doctors are 'scared' to discharge him
"We are so proud of him, we raised way above anything we expected, it just went out of control." Henri is now aged 10, and has returned to his "usual self" with plenty of football playing.
The ECHO previously reported that Henri's life had changed and it was after his treatment that he pledged to give back to Alder Hey for saving his life. On January 17 last year, Henri was discharged and ever since he has been fundraising for the hospital.
He intended to raise £10,000 by November on his 10th birthday to say thank you to the staff that saved his life. Now, aged 10, December 2023 marked one year since he was rushed to Alder Hey, and the family managed to raise a huge £25,000 for the hospital.
Due to his fundraising efforts, he is consistently being recognised, and even won a Your Heroes award for his courage. Strep A, or Group A Streptococcus as it’s also known, is a bacterium most commonly found in the throat and nose that can lead to numerous infections such as scarlet fever, tonsillitis and impetigo.
The bacterium is very common and lots of people will have it unknowingly but in some cases, it can spread to others who may have an increased chance of becoming ill from the infection. However, in most cases health issues caused by Strep A are mild.
If Henri had not been rushed to Alder Hey when he had, mum Carly said his "brain would've shut down". She added: "The reason behind the fundraising is because most people do this kind of things in memory, but we wanted to do it as thanks for giving us our son back in full health."