In the space of just a few days, my close friend’s teenage son went from being a healthy, active boy to fighting for his life in intensive care after suffering a stroke and undergoing emergency brain surgery.

What doctors initially believed was a viral illness rapidly became a life threatening emergency, turning one family’s world upside down overnight.

I’m fundraising for my close friends Sharon and Dave and their family after their son Ben became critically unwell in January. Sharon is one of my oldest friends and one of the most selfless people I know. For her to be facing something like this is heartbreaking, and I want her to know that she is not facing it alone and that everyone has her back.

As a close friend living far away, I felt completely helpless watching what they were going through and wanted to do something practical to support them in any way I could.

On 3rd January, Ben woke up feeling very unwell. He was being sick, shivering, complaining of a severe headache and had a high temperature. For the next 3 days Sharon managed his symptoms at home with pain relief and temperature control, but when he didn’t improve she took him to the GP. She was reassured it was likely a viral illness and advised to continue with paracetamol.

The following day Ben became unwell again and Sharon’s instincts told her something wasn’t right. She contacted NHS 111, who sent an ambulance. At Medway Hospital the initial assessment again suggested it was viral, but Sharon pushed for further checks as Ben had been unable to keep any fluids down for 5 days.

Blood tests revealed Ben’s CRP infection levels were 267. For context, anything over 50 is considered alarmingly high. A CT scan showed fluid build up in his sinuses and a lumbar puncture later confirmed meningitis.

Within hours, Ben’s condition deteriorated rapidly. The infection spread to his brain, causing encephalitis and empyema, and Ben suffered a stroke which left him with loss of function down his right side. He was blue lighted to King’s College Hospital on 8th January.

On arrival, Sharon and Dave were met by the neurological team and told Ben urgently needed life saving brain surgery. He underwent an emergency craniotomy and spent the following days in intensive care and high dependency, sedated and ventilated.

Ben, a motocross loving, kind and charismatic young boy and much loved little brother to Jack, has had his whole world turned upside down in a matter of days. What every parent fears became reality.

Ben will remain at King’s College Hospital for the coming months while he undergoes intensive rehabilitation and specialist therapy to help him regain movement, speech and independence. His road to recovery will be long, uncertain and incredibly challenging.

This fundraiser has been set up to help support Sharon, Dave and their family during this unimaginable time, helping with travel costs and the many unexpected expenses that come with long term hospital care, rehabilitation and potential home adaptations they may now need.

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