Hugo has always been an energetic kid. So, when his school walk-a-thon came around, he was ready to go. The six-year-old dressed as a Storm Trooper with his big brother, Nixon the Pirate, by his side and ran countless laps around the oval.
Hugo showed no warning signs that anything was wrong. His mum, Gosia recalls, “That was the one school event I didn’t go to that year. “I don’t know if it was fate, but maybe the universe didn’t want me there to witness what happened.”
Later that day, when Hugo was walking to recess, he suddenly collapsed and started seizing. He was rushed to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, where doctors ran a series of tests to find out what had caused it.
Gosia never could have imagined her little boy had suffered a stroke. Tests revealed Hugo had a small hole in his heart, a birth defect, that allowed a blood clot to travel to his brain.
“When they told me Hugo had a stroke, it was like an invisible hand grabbed my throat and squeezed. The room went blurry and their words became muffled. I didn’t understand how a kid could have a stroke,” says Gosia.
At the time, Hugo’s dad, Luke, was in Singapore for work. While his son was in an induced coma, he boarded the first flight home. The nine-hour journey was agonising. When he landed, he was too afraid to turn his phone on, fearing the absolute worst.
Thankfully, Hugo held on. He woke up three-and-a half days later.
A week passed before Hugo could make a sound. He couldn’t speak or move the right side of his face, hand or leg.
That’s when the Kids Rehab department at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead got involved. Hugo started multiple different therapies each day to help him recover.
Quickly, it became a full-time schedule. His days were filled with physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, child life therapy, psychology, neuropsychology and more. Every session focused on helping him regain his movement, independence and confidence.
“We got to experience all the firsts again, just like you do with a baby,” says Gosia. “We celebrated every tiny milestone like standing up, getting out of bed and taking his first steps.”
All of Hugo’s hard-work and determination paid off. Just two months later, on Christmas Eve, he was discharged and walked into his childhood bedroom unassisted.
Today, Hugo is a young and inspiring para-athlete. Every weekend is spent playing sport – running track, playing soccer or wheelchair basketball.
While the right-hand side of Hugo’s body is still impaired, the progress he has made is astounding. His family credit it to the hospital’s care teams.
“Your support means the best possible care, like the Kids Rehab is there, in case you ever need it,” says Gosia.
Donate to Sydney Children's Hospitals Foundation today to change the future for sick kids like Hugo.
