Exactly one year on from baby Lakyn Pratt’s first stroke, he had another one. His parents, Mikaela and Ethan were forced to re-live the worst day of their lives all over again.
“Lakyn woke up in the middle of the night crying, he’d been sick, so he was in our bed with us when we noticed he was having a seizure. I called the ambulance immediately,” Mikaela said.
“When we got to hospital, he was in emergency when Ethan noticed his right side had gone limp. Lakyn was sent for a CT scan where they confirmed he’d suffered from another stroke.
“He was moved into the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, but they couldn’t control the seizures, so the decision was made to place him into an induced coma to rest his brain to protect from swelling and further seizures.”
Lakyn, now 21 months old, spent six days in PICU, three days in an induced coma and four weeks in John Hunter Hospital.
“Lakyn is such a fighter. When he was discharged and finally back home, he was surprising everyone by starting to crawl and stand up by himself,” Mikaela said.
“That’s why Ethan and I decided to take part in Stride4Stroke this year. We want to make more people aware of childhood stroke, and to raise funds to develop resources for childhood survivors of stroke and their families.”
“We started our moving minutes in hospital, but now we are home and walking the boys around the local estate each day.
Lakyn is among the 600 Australian children to have a stroke each year. The Pratt family have already raised more than $4,000.
The annual fundraiser encourages Australians to get active to reduce their risk of stroke. Participants set an activity goal to increase their daily ‘moving minutes’ by walking, running, swimming, or cycling, swimming or setting a goal in stroke recovery.
Stroke Foundation Chief Executive Officer Dr Lisa Murphy commended the Pratt family for their courage and determination, while Lakyn is recovering.
“Stroke doesn’t discriminate. It affects anyone at any time, even unborn babies,” Dr Murphy said.
“We regularly hear from families like the Pratt’s that there’s a lack of help after childhood stroke, and that’s why fundraising is so important to bridge that gap.
“The funds raised by the Pratt family will go directly towards the Stroke Foundation work in Childhood Stroke.”
Donate to Lakyn’s fundraiser at the website.
