A mum knew her son had to go to hospital after he had a change in behaviour, becoming lethargic after before Christmas.
Nine-year-old Henri Brammer was rushed to Alder Hey hospital after doctors found "a ball of pus" on his brain. The schoolboy began to experience headaches shortly before Christmas, with mum Carly putting it down to festive excitement.
But when he began to complain of eye pain and became lethargic, he was taken to his local hospital in Stoke on December 19. Being told it was viral, a CT scan showed he needed major surgery and he was rushed to Alder Hey the following day.
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He underwent three surgical procedures and spent one month in hospital during his recovery before finally being allowed home. Now, as he recovers at home, he has pledged to raise funds for the hospital that saved his life.
As part of his fundraising efforts, young Henri dressed up as his hero for school - the Alder Hey surgeon who performed his surgery. Mum Carly said: "It was his idea. They did a dress up as your hero day in school to raise money for his fundraising page and he asked to go as Doctor Ali so I got the scrubs and printed off the picture and he won over the whole school."
Henri arrived at Alder Hey on December 20 and that same day underwent his first five-hour procedure. The next two came a week after the other due to further complications.
Carly confirmed the procedure was "difficult" due to the placement of the fluid but that had it been left, it would have been "dangerous". She was soon told her brave son had suffered a viral infection which had resulted in Strep A and empyema of the brain.
She previously told the ECHO: "We were told if we hadn't taken him to A&E on the 19th, he wouldn't be here his brain would've shut down and he'd have gone to bed and just not woken up."
Strep A, or Group A Streptococcus as it’s also known, is a bacterium most commonly found in the throat and nose that can lead to numerous infections such as scarlet fever, tonsillitis and impetigo.
The bacterium is very common and lots of people will have it unknowingly but in some cases, it can spread to others who may have an increased chance of becoming ill from the infection. However, in most cases health issues caused by Strep A are mild.
Carly is urging other parents to be aware of Strep A as she said: "Parents know when something is wrong so trust your gut, even if you are wrong just push for answers. We didn't know how serious Strep A can be, he's a very lucky boy.
"Trust your gut and don't take no for an answer. Alder Hey have been incredible, if you need something done, it's done there and then."
After spending time in ICU and the high dependency unit, Henri was discharged from Alder Hey on January 17 this year and has been fundraising for the hospital ever since. He wanted to raise £10,000 by November on his 10th birthday to say thank you to the staff that saved his life.
A number of fundraisers have already been held and the page has raised over £9,000 already as donations keep pouring in. The fundraising page can be found here.
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