Lucy Mecklenburgh tried not to cry as she opened up to fans about her son Roman’s latest diagnosis.
The former The Only Way Is Essex star had to rush the two-year-old to hospital last year after he turned blue in his cot.
He was put on a ventilator in intensive care, something Lucy and partner Ryan Thomas describe as “every parent’s worst nightmare”.
Since then, the tot has needed daily medication and an inhaler to help him breathe properly.
The youngster has also been having regular check-ups to monitor his progress.
But Lucy revealed the family had received some shock news during a hospital appointment on Friday.
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Reality star turned fitness guru Lucy – who is currently pregnant with her second child – said the diagnosis had left her with “mixed feelings”.
Taking to her Instagram stories, the 30-year-old said doctors had discovered fluid has been entering Roman’s lungs whenever he has a drink.
The little one had to have a special ‘videofluroscopy’ – a moving X-ray taken as a patient consumes fluid.
Lucy explained: “It was to check that there wasn’t any fluid when he drinks going down the wrong way and into his lungs.
“I honestly thought that it wasn’t going to show that, so I kept my days’ work in and he went with Ryan.
“I like to be at all the appointments and Ryan rang me and said it was showing there is fluid going into his lungs.”
Choking back tears, Lucy continued: “I feel really weird about it because I’m sad for Roman.”
Doctors have said Roman must have a special thickener – which won’t get into his lungs – instead of thin fluids from now on.
This treatment could be something little Roman is on for “years” as experts try and figure out an alternative.
Lucy told her 1.7 million Instagram followers: “From Monday, when we pick up the thickener, he can’t have any thin fluids for quite a long time – potentially years.
“So no lollies and ice-creams, no normal water or juice. Everything has to be a really thick consistency to stop it entering his lungs.
“But we have an answer. Maybe it’s not the full picture. I don’t know yet because we’ve not seen his consultant – but it’s something.”
She added: “It’s a step forward and is something that we can deal with and is something that will hopefully stop him getting so sick.
“So yeah, it’s a positive in a way because we’ve got a bit closer maybe to the answer.”
Lucy is due to give birth to her second baby with fiance Ryan in spring. Earlier this month she shared a sweet clip of Roman meeting his baby sister on a 4D scan.
