Aussie family nightmare: How a young boy, 4, went to bed and woke up paralysed

Little Oliver Davis was known for being a happy, active four-year-old.

But on Monday June 2, 2018, he started experiencing ‘unbearable pain’ that led to a family nightmare.

That morning his mum Belinda, from NSW, recalls Olivier saying: ‘Mummy, I can’t sit up.’

‘At first I thought he was just being silly but he needed to roll out of bed because he had no abdominal strength,’ Belinda, 32, told Daily Mail Australia.

By 2pm Oliver was in agony and Belinda rushed him to the closest GP who told her to go straight to the hospital. 

On Monday June 2, 2018, little four-year-old Oliver Davis (pictured) started experiencing ‘unbearable pain’ that led to a family nightmare

Within 24 hours he became paralysed from the neck down and was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) – a rare neurological disorder where the body’s immune system attacks the nerves

Whatever Oliver was experiencing was considered ‘pretty serious’ by doctors and needed to be attended to fast, so the family was sent to the Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick in an ambulance.

‘When we got there, they put him under and did an MRI scan as a process of elimination to determine what was wrong,’ Belinda said. 

Physicians ruled out brain tumours, cancers and other ‘scary’ prognosis’ but came back and diagnosed Oliver with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS).

Within 24 hours Oliver became completely paralysed from the neck down and lost all control of his reflexes and nerves.

According to Mayo Clinic, GBS is a rare neurological disorder where the body’s immune system attacks the nerves.

‘At first I thought he was just being silly but he had to roll out of bed because he had no abdominal strength,’ mum Belinda, 32, told Daily Mail Australia

The syndrome is often triggered by viral or bacterial illnesses, but a definite cause is still unknown. 

‘No one can tell you at the time how long you’ll be paralysed for or how long you’ll be in hospital for because they don’t know enough information about it,’ Belinda said. 

Oliver was unable to move his legs or arms and had difficulty swallowing food, but his ability to breathe was never impacted. 

Oliver was unable to move his legs or arms and had difficulty swallowing food, but his ability to breathe was never impacted

He was completely paralysed for about four weeks, and his family never left his side. 

‘He spent a few days in ICU and he didn’t want me to leave his sight, even for a toilet break,’ Belinda said.

‘I cried so much those first few days because we didn’t know what the outcome would be.’

Belinda said Oliver remained in hospital for three months where he learnt how to crawl and walk again.

‘He was in extreme pain all over his body and was given morphine, but was still in pain,’ she said.

‘He had hot and cold sensitives. One moment he’s be wrapped in a warm blanket then the next he had ice packs on him. And this would continue back and forth all night.’

What is Guillain-Barre syndrome? 

Guillain-Barre syndrome is a rare disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks the nerves. 

Weakness and tingling in the extremities are usually the first symptoms.

These sensations can quickly spread, eventually paralysing the whole body.

In its most severe form, Guillain-Barre syndrome is a medical emergency. Most people with the condition must be hospitalised to receive treatment.

The exact cause of Guillain-Barre syndrome is unknown, but two-thirds of patients report symptoms of an infection in the six weeks preceding. 

Source: Mayo Clinic  

Since his nerves weren’t responsive, he needed to use a catheter and feeding tube.

‘When he could finally start having thickened, soft foods again he always wanted a Boost Juice,’ Belinda said. 

Oliver later experienced a relapse, but thankfully this only lasted less than a week and wasn’t as serious as the first attack. 

Treatment included an ‘IVIg’ which is used to reduce the effects of inflammatory conditions of the immune system. 

The road to recovery was a long process, and the one thing that put a smile on Oliver’s face was the Starlight Children’s Foundation room and visits from the Starlight Captains 

The road to recovery was a long process but the one thing that put a smile on Oliver’s face was the Starlight Children’s Foundation room and visits from the Starlight Captains. 

‘They always made him smile and it was his favourite place to be that took his mind away from being in hospital,’ Belinda said. 

The Starlight Captains always put on a show and offer face painting, balloon animals, singing, dress-ups and often a BBQ.

The Make A Wish Foundation also granted Oliver a wish, and he chose to swim with dolphins at SeaWorld in Queensland with the whole family. 

Three years on and Oliver, now 7, has returned to living life as normal but has a physio appointment once a week and regular swimming lessons.

‘He’s a real trooper,’ Belinda said.

‘Sometimes his fingers might feel funny or he might feel fatigued, but for the most part he looks like every other kid.’ 

The family moved from Sydney to the NSW North Coast, but travel back down to Sydney for treatment or have tele-health appointments. 

Since swimming was highly beneficial for Oliver, Belinda is sharing her family’s story ahead of Starlight Children’s Foundation’s Super Swim campaign

Since swimming has proven highly beneficial for Oliver, Belinda is sharing her family’s story ahead of Starlight Children’s Foundation’s Super Swim campaign.

From 1 February through to 28 February 2022, Australia’s virtual swim challenge will aim to raise $3million across the month to help deliver happiness to over 76,000 sick kids.

By completing a swim at a location of their choice – either their pool, the beach, a lake, or local swim centre – participants will raise funds to support Starlight’s vital in-hospital services including Captain Starlight and Starlight Express Rooms nationally. 

‘We feel so lucky to be supported by Starlight and so many people were loving during Oliver’s time in hospital,’ Belinda said.  

Registrations are open now, with participants able to complete their swim challenge anytime throughout February 1 to 28.

To find out more about the Starlight Children’s Foundation’s Super Swim campaign, click here.

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