A FOUR-YEAR-OLD Wirral boy who was born with a one-in-a-million immune deficiency has inspired nurses to raise money for support and research into his rare condition.
Little Jay Pritchard has no immune system, which means he is vulnerable to all infection and must undergo gruelling treatment every week.
The illness is a genetically inherited condition affecting only boys, known as Primary Immuno-deficiency.
But the lively schoolboy has so impressed his nurses at Arrowe Park’s Hospital at Home service they are running a half-marathon on his behalf.
His proud mother Tracy, from Eastham, described her son as “a real character”.
She said: “Jay is such a care-free, happy little boy who copes brilliantly with his illness.”
Two nurses from the Hospital at Home service, which provides support to families caring for sick children at home, will take part in the Liverpool Women’s Marathon on Sunday March 2 to raise money for the Primary Immuno-deficiency Association.
Kerry Ward and Emma Simpson are supporting Jay’s family to give medication and monitor his condition. They will be joined in the marathon by Karen Usher, Kerry’s friend.
Kerry said: “Jay has doses of antibiotics intravenously at home. He’s such a loveable and funny little boy and we’re glad to be helping in whatever way we can.”
Tracy says she owes a debt of gratitude to Arrowe Park, part of Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, for the care Jay is receiving.
Until recently he was a patient on Ward 11, but now he no longer has to spend long periods in hospital thanks to Hospital at Home.
Ward 11 Manager Liz Collins and Children’s High Dependency Nurse Des Collins, trained Tracy and her sister Sue Mighall to give Jay’s medication.
“Every Wednesday, Jay has to miss school and is wired up to his equipment for about seven hours a day to get his medication,” said Tracy. “If he didn’t have this treat- ment, his condition would be fatal.”
Anyone wishing to sponsor the Hospital at Home team should contact Kerry at Arrowe Park Hospital on 0151 678 5111.
lizawilliams
