Please help QMC PICU. Their constant support and dedication to Lewis has been amazing and we would like to give back a token of how they have helped us in our time of need. No amount could ever repay them but every penny counts for the future of our children.

Lewis arrived in Turkey on his family summer holiday 4 weeks ago and was extremely poorly. He was admitted to a hospital there and was given a lifesaving operation as his appendix had burst.  He spent a further 5 days there recovering with his dad Rene by his side and flew home 5 days later than planned. He was so brave during this time and never moaned once despite being in a different country.

Once back home in England Lewis was reunited with his mum Fiona who cared for him at home. Still very poorly, Lewis rested and was taken to his local GP surgery every day, he also saw a district nurse who dressed his wound from his operation.  

Over the week, Lewis unfortunately deteriorated. Rene and Fiona both noticed this and mentioned it the his GP who thought there was nothing to worry about. Unhappy with this response, they took him up to Primary Care at Kings Mill Hospital. The doctors there also said Lewis was recovering well and there was nothing to worry about. 

A further 2 days passed with Lewis deteriorating every day and Fiona and Rene again took him to Primary Care and demanded that Lewis was admitted, even if it was just for 24 hours observation. Once again Lewis was turned away with Rene and Fiona being told he wasn't a 'high risk' and that his case was 'low priority!'

2 days on, Lewis still as strong as ever, never moaning or complaining, Fiona took him to his GP once again. She explained she had never seen him like this before and how worried and concerned she was. The GP said there might be a slight chance his wound from his op may be infected and he'd get a surgeon to look at it at the hospital.

Fiona and Rene took Lewis to see the surgeon that afternoon, Wednesday the 18th September and it was here Lewis suffered a massive seizure. He was transferred to Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham to their Paediatric Intensice Care Unit and we were told he had 3 abcesses in his abdomen, liver failure, kidney failure and severe septicaemia. 

Lewis was put on a ventilator and had an operation on the 21st where the surgeon discovered severe internal bleeding and had to stop the op after completing a blood transfusion which Lewis needed 167 units of blood. We were then told that Lewis may not make it through the night.

The PICU team continued to fight for Lewis and he was taken to the operating theatre the following day for his second operation. Thankfully his internal bleeding had reduced and they were able to get out a lot of his infection.  Although still critical, Lewis was making progress.

Since his ops, Lewis has been put on dialysis and is still on a ventilator. He is still very poorly but progressing every day. Without the constant help, support, care and dedication from the PICU nurses, doctors and surgeons, I'm certain there would be a different story to tell. No words can describe how grateful we are.

And as for Lewis Close and his journey..............I am sure you will agree, he is quite possibly the bravest boy we know and he is loved very much.

Please help raise money for this amazing team, nothing can repay them but even if we can give back a little then this will help others in the future in a similar situation to Lewis and his family, a young boy classed as 'low priority' and so let down prior to thankfully being transferred to this amazing unit. 

Thank you xxxx

27/09/13 21:57