The family of a young disabled boy have been forced to seek private treament for his "horrendous" cough, due to a lack of NHS appointments. Jack Christmas, 13, developed the cough after contracting Covid-19 and it is so bad that he sometimes nearly chokes on his own mucus.
Jack, from Hull, has Mowat Wilson Syndrome and was diagnosed with the genetic condition when he was just six months old. It means that he relies on the 24/7 care of adults and suffers seizures, as well as using a wheelchair and requiring assistance using the toilet.
The 13-year-old first contracted coronavirus in the New Year and his mum, Dawn, said that he coped well at first. But after a couple of weeks, Jack began to develop symptoms of a chest infection which included a severe cough, HullLive reports.
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Jack's exhausted parents hear him coughing constantly throughout the night and they often need to help him bring up thick mucus, which leaves him close to choking. His parents have tried everything to get some treatment for him, but have now been forced to pay for private care because there are no NHS appointments available for a boy of Jack's age.
Dawn first contacted Jack's GP in January, but she and the family are still battling with his cough. She said: "Since contacting the GP, Jack has tried about seven different types of medication to treat the cough but nothing has worked so far.
"The GP told us there was nothing more they could do and referred us to a specialist in March. At the end of May, we received a letter telling us that there were no specialist appointments available and by this point, Jack had already undergone a chest X-ray which told us his lungs were hyperinflated.
"I contacted Spire Hull about taking him on as a private patient but they informed me that they don’t have paediatric respiratory specialists, so we will have to take him to Spire Leeds. The Leeds team agreed to fit him in for an appointment on July 21, which is still a long time to wait."
Though the family are relieved to have finally been offered an appointment, it does not come without its inconveniences. The appointment is an early morning one, which means that they family will need to pay for a hotel on top of the travel costs.
This has made the appointment - which is already costing them, due to being a private appointment - even more expensive. For just a consultation, the family have paid £200 and this does not include the cost of any tests, investigations, or treatment either during or after the appointment.
Dawn continued: "I just didn't know what else to do. I would do anything if it meant that my son didn't have to suffer – even sell my house. We have tried all sorts and have seen Jack endure a few truly horrendous nights. Throughout it all, he is still the most happy and smiley boy but we can see he is just so tired.
"It has been hard on the family to deal with Jack's condition, especially looking after him as his body changes, because he is getting so tall! The key to it all is working as a team with his dad and brother, as well as many of our amazing friends.
"I am very lucky as I have been working full-time as a teacher at a school for 18/19 years and they are nothing but understanding and supportive of when I need to take time to take Jack to appointments. Unfortunately, my husband will have to take unpaid leave for when we go to Leeds, which puts us in a difficult financial situation again.
"We had the idea to set up a Go Fund Me from a friend, when we realised all of the days off, travel costs and private medical bills we would be hit with. We know that it is a tough time for everyone right now so only if you can spare something."
To donate to the Jack Christmas fund, you can find the family's Go Fund Me page here.
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