The parents of a healthy, happy and animal-loving three-year-old boy have paid tribute to the joy he brought to their lives and how they have been left devastated by his sudden death.
When Peppa Pig obsessed Tyson-James Spencer came home from nursery poorly on March 14, his parents Matt and Jo, of Brixham, believed he had caught norovirus that had been spreading around. However, when his condition began to deteriorate he was taken to see his doctor and was told to go straight to Torbay Hospital, reports Devon Live.
There he was diagnosed with Covid-19 and it was initially believed that was the reason behind his symptoms. He was sent home to recover on March 17, but two days later, when he failed to improve and became floppy and confused, his parents called an ambulance. While waiting for one to arrive, Tyson-James began struggling to breathe. He was rushed back to Torbay Hospital where he was diagnosed with an infection in his ear called pneumococcal and then transferred to Bristol Children's Hospital.
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Matt recalled: "Jo went with Tyson-James to hospital as there could only be one of us with him. She telephoned to say he had been put on a ventilator and appeared to be all right, even though he was very unwell. An hour later she rang screaming he his heart had stopped and I had to get there. They managed to resuscitate him and he was put on lots of machines and medicine."
Tyson-James was transferred to the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children where his condition was stabilised. Specialists told Matt and Jo the devastating news that their son had a rare very autoimmune life-threatening condition called Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH).
It causes the immune system to damage the patient’s own tissues and organs, including the liver, brain and bone marrow where blood is made. It is so rare that Matt and Jo were told doctors only see it once or twice a year at the hospital.
Matt, who works in a children's home, said: "He was in hospital for about a week and they were able to fix his heart and everything else but it had attacked his brain and he was effectively killed by the HLH. The fact he had Covid was just a coincidence. The only part it played was it led to the first hospital admission. Tyson-James's death was really, really bad luck and no one is to blame really. There will be an investigation as there always is in cases like this."
Tyson-James passed away on March 26 with his family by his side. His funeral was held last Thursday, April 21. A horse-drawn procession with Tyson-James carried in a Peppa Pig Coffin left their home and made its way to St Mary's Church where the service was held. A party to celebrate Tyson-James's short life was held at The Burton Hotel where Jo has worked part-time since last October.
Jo, who also works as head receptionist at South Bay Holiday Park, said: "The local community have just been amazing in the way they have come together and done fundraising, especially The Burton Hotel. Nearly every shop in the town gave prizes for an auction and raffle. The community helped us give Tyson-James a funeral he would have wanted because it was not about us; it was about him."
Paying tribute to their son, Matt said: "You always knew when he had gone into a room because he made his presence known. He would not sit down and was really bright, happy and would be bouncing off the sofas. He absolutely loved any animal, and adored Peppa Pig."
Attempting to come to terms with their devastating loss, he said: "What is getting us through at the moment is that although we have not got a child anymore we are still parents and we have a duty of care to protect Tyson-James so we can't let ourselves fall apart as it's not about us; it's about him."
The fundraiser remains ongoing as any money raised above the funeral costs will be donated to the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children and will also go towards a memorial for Tyson-James in Matt and Jo's garden. To make a donation please click here.
