Smiley boy, 5, likely died from 'rare side effects of medication', inquest hears
A little boy died after suffering 'rare side effects' of medication he was on, an inquest has heard.
'Smiley' Ellis James Hamer-Holland died of pancreatitis which came about after he was given medicines while undergoing intensive cancer treatment. Days before his death, the five-year-old was re-admitted to Royal Manchester Children's Hospital with severe abdominal pain.
Ellis was being treated for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia at the time of his death in April 2022, which he'd been diagnosed with three years earlier in August 2019. The cancer affects the blood and bone marrow, and he'd been just three when diagnosed.
The year prior to his death, he was given a bone marrow transplant and discharged from the hospital as doctors were "happy with his progress", the inquest heard this week. But after a lumbar puncture, Ellis had to be re-admitted because of his severe pain. Tragically, the youngster died in hospital five days afterwards on April 7.
Manchester coroner's court heard Ellis was on numerous medications at the time, including corticosteroids, calcium, and topiramate. Consultant paediatric Dr Gemma Petts told the court that some medications 'can interfere with protective physiological mechanisms and be a cause of pancreatitis'.
Baby boy has spent his life in hospital as doctors are 'scared' to discharge him
Despite being unable to confirm for sure that Ellis' pancreatitis was caused by the drugs, she said that "on a balance of probabilities" it was likely. Another expert, consultant paediatric haematologist Dr Denise Bonney, said that the greatest risk of developing pancreatitis falls 'within four to 14 days' of corticosteroids being taken.
Ellis' condition on this basis was "rare" and "unexpected", Manchester Evening News reports. The youngster's death was later recorded as severe acute pancreatitis in a child treated for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Coroner Zak Golombek recorded a narrative verdict, saying he was satisfied Ellis' pancreatitis was caused by the medication he was on, and that he "died from rare side effects of necessary treatment".
In a previous tribute to her son, mum Scarlett Holland described Ellis as 'really funny and charming', and 'always had a big grin on his face'. Ms Holland said: "We are still struggling to come to terms with his passing and we miss him so, so much."
Addressing parents Scarlett and Joshua in court, Mr Golombek said: "I know you will likely have questions remaining. There must be a real sense of frustration that there is not a clear answer as to how Ellis’ severe pancreatitis was caused, and a clear understanding of how your son, who had been through so much in such a short space of time, came to sadly die in April 2022.
"I am satisfied the cause was the medications that Ellis was prescribed and that these were rare side effects of what was necessary treatment in order to treat Ellis’s leukaemia. I cannot imagine how deeply distressing it is for you both. I thank you for how extremely dignified you’ve been throughout this process."
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