Mum's warning after RSV left son with brain damage

"If my life was a vase, it was like somebody dropped it and all the pieces went everywhere."

Those are the words of a mother who is urging pregnant women to get vaccinated against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) after her premature son was left with severe brain damage.

Despite being severely affected by the virus, Laine Lewis from Hucclecote near Gloucester said Malachi, now 12, is defying doctors' expectations after previously being told he may not see his 10th birthday.

Dr Andrew Whittamore said while RSV "is usually not serious, symptoms that might seem no different from a cold can go on to cause bronchiolitis and breathing problems".

According to the NHS, RSV infections are very common.

Almost all children under two get them, but premature babies and those aged below six months are at an increased risk of getting seriously ill.

Some adults, such as elderly people, are also at increased risk.

Symptoms are often similar to a cold but if RSV leads to a more serious infection, it can cause a worsening cough, shortness of breath, and confusion.

More than 33,000 children under five years old are hospitalised with the condition every year.

At six weeks old, Malachi developed what seemed like a cold and was taken to the GP as a precaution. When his condition deteriorated more two days later, Lewis took him back to the surgery.

A doctor immediately put an oxygen mask on Malachi and called an ambulance as he was not breathing properly.

At the hospital, Lewis was told Malachi had RSV which had developed into sepsis.

He was stabilised and moved to the children's ward, where he stopped breathing.

It took an hour for doctors to stabilise Malachi enough for him to be moved to Bristol Children's Hospital, and a scan revealed he had a brain injury as not enough blood and oxygen had gone to his brain.

"'He might not make it to 10, but he could not make the end of this year'," Lewis recalled doctors saying at the time.

Lewis was then told by doctors Malachi would be unable to walk or talk.

More than a decade on, Malachi loves singing and spending time outdoors.

"He's been defying that list of negatives ever since, not to say he isn't affected - he's severely affected," Lewis said.

Malachi has epilepsy, cerebral palsy affecting his whole body, severely impaired sight and is paralysed on his left side.

But he has learnt to talk, is "phenomenally quick" scooting on his bottom, and eats pureed foods, Lewis said.

"He's very adventurous, loves a theme park; he lives life at 100mph and he's done that since he was little."

Whittamore, clinical lead at charity Asthma + Lung UK, said the vaccine is available to women who are 28 weeks or more into their pregnancy.

He said: "By vaccinating [women] once, they develop a boost of their own immunity, which they pass to their baby, which stays with the baby until they're about six months of age."

Lewis, who is working with Asthma + Lung UK to raise awareness of RSV, did not have the option of an RSV vaccine as it was not offered to pregnant women until 2024.

"It's really important that our story doesn't scare people," Lewis said.

"What happened to Malachi is very rare and there was a combination of factors.

"I'd encourage people to take the vaccine for RSV because it will help their child," she added.