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Sepsis and Cancer


Epstein Barr Virus

EBV positive extra-nodal NK/T cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma nasal type, Stage 1E.
It's a bit of a mouth full but this is Ryan's official diagnosis. It is a rare lymphoma, but extremely rare in children. It is extra-nodal in his tonsillar area at the back of his mouth in the oropharynx or Waldeyer's ring. Caused by the Epstein Barr Virus that is usually responsible for Glandular Fever. 

I have shared my full story on several chat forums in the hope that there is someone with the same that I can connect with for support. Of course, I do not wish this on anyone, however, if there is someone else going through, or has been through the same I would like to connect with them.

Thank you to everyone that has shared messages with me so far. I really appreciate the help and advice you have given me. I wish each and every one of you all the best with your own battles.

Sepsis 

Ryan had a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube fitted on Monday 3rd October 2016, with Radiotherapy (RT) due to start on Tuesday 4th. On Tuesday morning I spoke with the doctors as I was concerned that Ryan wasn't well enough after the op to start RT, but everyone assured me he was medically fit enough and the emotions he was displaying were nerves for the RT starting. It took 4 nurses and his youth worker two and a half hours to coax him through the first fraction as he was in so much distress. 

On Tuesday night he began vomiting and I rang the nurse at Velindre Cancer Centre on Wednesday morning concerned again that he wasn't well enough for RT. She said she would assess him when we arrived for our second session. By the time we got to her on Wednesday afternoon Ryan's temp had reached 40.2C and she red-flagged sepsis. All hell broke loose and Ryan had 12 medical professionals around his bedside at Velindre while they stabilised him and got an ambulance to transfer him to the Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT) unit in Cardiff. I cannot ever thank Velindre enough for acting so quickly and saving his life. 

We then spent 10 days in the TCT unit as Ry improved slowly. His CRP reached an impressive 332 on Thursday 6th October. His BP and Temp have finally stabilised although his Hb, Potassium and Creatinine are a little low. His Lymphocytes are almost non-existent but everything else bloods wise is all ok.

So in all, he only had 1 fraction of RT on Tuesday 4th October, with a ten-day break and he was then taken by ambulance over to Velindre and then brought back to TCT for his initial week of RT sessions while he continued to recover from the sepsis.

PEG Feeding

Another unplanned diversion as we just ride this latest bump through the ever-winding Lymphoma road and little did we know the complications and ultimately life-threatening situation the blasted PEG would place Ryan in, within a month of having it fitted.



Sepsis For The Second Time

In November 2023 Ryan developed a cough, nothing to serious but he missed a week of working on the farm as the cough developed into a chest infection. He was prescribed some antibiotics by the GP. The following week the chest infect became tonsillitis and Ryan was really beginning to struggle. We were becoming concerned as all his original problems all relate to his throat. We went back to the GP at the end of November and she called the Hospital from the surgery while we were sat there to arrange for Ryan to be admitted immediately as she believed he was Septic once again. The GP printed us an admission letter and told us to go directly to the hospital, do not pass Go to not collect £200 (monopoly joke). Upon arrival at the Acute Admissions Ward, Ryan was assessed and indeed admitted, although his Sepsis score was not quite as high as the first time. He spent 9 days in isolation on the Haematology Ward and fingers crossed that is our final run-in with Sepsis.

Comments

  1. Anonymous21 November 2016 at 14:12

    Ryan has been through so much Sarah at such a young age. Life is unfair. Stay strong together and I am thinking of you all as he awaits the next round of treatment. Xx Paula

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anon22 November 2016 at 10:43

    I didn't know about the 2 1/2 hour struggle for RT(1). What an epic. It was great to have you explain the mnemonics - made it must more understandable. Clearly you have been reading - AND taking notes! Where do you find the time? It is just as well that being a parent comes without an instruction book - it would really put you off if you knew it beforehand. Love and support xxxxx.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Chris Curtis11 January 2017 at 11:23

    Great to see your Post and I will highlight it on our website www.theswallows.org.uk if you don't mind.

    Thank you for sharing x
    Chris Curtis, H&N Cancer Survivor 2017

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @SarahLou24 February 2017 at 21:00

      Thank you Chris. That will be an honour. I look forward to meeting wit you soon.

      Delete
  4. Aoife Brown24 February 2017 at 20:57

    Bless you all.. what a challenging journey for your family. I wish you all the best.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @SarahLou24 February 2017 at 21:01

      Thank you Aoife. Ryan is making great progress, there are several newer posts sharing his progress. x

      Delete

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