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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Aditi Rane & Laura Sharman

Dad's worst nightmare after finding twin son 'floppy' in his cot after stroke

A mum and dad experienced every parent's worst nightmare when they discovered their 19-month-old son floppy and unconscious in his cot.

Ronnie Kerman's parents were warned they might lose their son after doctors confirmed he had suffered a stroke.

Mum Louise immediately knew something was wrong when she found the tot unconscious in his crib in February 2018.

She would usually be greeted by the sight of Ronnie, who has a twin brother named Robert, standing at the edge of his bed waiting to be picked up.

But this time, he was laying on his back with the left-side of his body 'all floppy', reports Hull Live.

Louise and dad Phil rushed him to Hull Royal Infirmary and a CT scan revealed a black mark on the 19-month-old toddler's brain.

The couple were then urged to take Ronnie to Leeds General Infirmary for treatment.

The family are now looking ahead to the future (Hull Daily Mail / MEN Media)

Ronnie was diagnosed with an Optic Pathway Glioman and Neurofibromatosis Type 1, which caused Ronnie to become completely blind.

He has also since been diagnosed with Moyamoya disease which is caused by a blocked artery in the brain.

The brave tot underwent several brain surgeries for the cancerous tumour inside his brain in 2018 and 2019.

After a promising response at first, things took a sharp turn when Ronnie became allergic to his chemotherapy and his parents were told to prepare for "end of life care".

Phil said: "When the doctors spoke about palliative care, I just couldn't believe it.

"I was really shocked because Ronnie had been doing so well and we were told the tumour on his brain had shrunk.

"But the tumour had grown a little bit and they said there was nothing else they could do.

Little Ronnie was discovered unconscious in his cot (Hull Daily Mail / MEN Media)
His dad Phil told of the terrifying ordeal (Hull Daily Mail / MEN Media)

"I just said to the doctor 'you've got to do something, you've got to help him and save his life'."

Doctors then put Ronnie on a daily chemotherapy treatment called Trametinib which he can take orally.

He is the youngest patient to have been administered the treatment.

Phil said the treatment has been "absolutely fantastic" and Ronnie is now approaching his sixth birthday.

He added: "I couldn't ask for anything more really.

"He is just a little superstar, we never thought it would be this way.

"He can even 'bum shuffle' from the living room to the kitchen. Even though he can't see, he knows where he is and where he needs to be. It's fantastic."

Ronnie has since been placed onto a new treatment (Hull Daily Mail / MEN Media)
He is now approaching his sixth birthday (Hull Daily Mail / MEN Media)

Ronnie has also benefited greatly from sensory play using sensory boards and playing in the water.

He has grown fond of swimming and attends weekly swimming lessons.

Phil added: "He's a cheeky little boy now and he is quite independent. He knows what he wants and likes.

"He enjoys music, everything from nursery rhymes to rock music like AC/DC."

Despite his astronomical progress, medical complications are not uncommon and hospital visits are still a regular occurrence for Ronnie.

The youngster will visit Hull Royal Infirmary next week to have his feeding tube replaced and treat his tooth decay, which is a side effect of his chemotherapy.

To help him lead a better quality of life, David Freer decided to fundraise £2500 for any additional sensory equipment that Ronnie would need.

David, who volunteers at Life for a Kid, will be doing the Jane Tomlinson Hull 10K run in June along with his dog Lewis, who is an NHS therapy dog, to raise the money for Ronnie.

Phil said: "I have known of David because he comes with Lewis at the Hull Royal Infirmary, so Ronnie has previously met David.

"It's really amazing what people can do from the goodness of their heart. I can't thank him enough."

Contributions to David's fundraiser for Ronnie can be made on his JustGiving page.

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