Lara Holt’s 19-month-old son Cillian spent 21 days in hospital as doctors feared heart, brain and kidney damage
A mother says her “perfect” family getaway rapidly descended into a nightmare when her toddler fell suddenly unwell and ended up battling for his life.
Lara Holt’s 19-month-old son Cillian contracted E.coli while holidaying in Hurghada, Egypt, and was hospitalised after it progressed into a rare but potentially fatal condition.
“It was the most terrifying experience of my life,” said Lara, from Liverpool. “One moment, we thought we were dealing with food poisoning from a holiday, and the next we were being told our baby could go into cardiac arrest.
“I remember feeling completely helpless watching him attached to machines and tubes. As a parent, you would do anything to take that pain away from your child.”
Lara travelled to Hurghada in 2019 with her husband, Richard, alongside Cillian and their two older children, Lily-Mae and Olivia. Lara says the break “seemed perfect” initially, until her husband became unwell with severe stomach cramps and diarrhoea mere days after touching down.
A day afterwards, Lara and the children developed the same symptoms. While Richard, Lily-Mae and Olivia were able to receive treatment from a doctor at their hotel, Cillian was too young for the medication and Lara was unable to take it owing to other health concerns she had at the time, reports the Liverpool Echo.
It became apparent to Lara and Richard that their young son was battling the illness, and they even tried to cut their trip short. The stay-at-home mum added: “We became increasingly concerned because Cillian became very lethargic and weak.
“We tried to find flights to come home early but were unsuccessful. We made it to the airport and after we checked our bags, I took Cillian to the toilet to change his nappy – and all hell broke loose. [It was] the most diarrhoea I’ve ever seen come out of a toddler.
“I put all of Cillian’s clothes in the bin and cleaned my dress the best I could. We had to buy something for me and Cillian to fly home in. The only thing I could get was way too small for me but I had to wear it and Cillian had a dress too.”
After the family arrived back in the UK, Lara says the majority of them gradually improved, but Cillian’s health “deteriorated rapidly”. The youngster had grown pale, exhausted and withdrawn – and Lara “knew something was seriously wrong”.
Lara took Cillian to A&E, where he remained overnight, but without a urine sample, medics found it difficult to diagnose him. They were discharged and instructed to come back with a sample the next day, but Cillian woke the following morning drowsy and with blood in his urine.
Back at the hospital, the little one underwent blood tests. Lara recalled: “The nurse said to me, ‘I think I know what this is, I just need his blood to come back to clarify it’. She had done a fingerprint blood test, which came back in one hour.
“Then I was taken to another room and asked to lie on the bed, they placed Cillian on top of me and told me how serious everything was. They put a mask on his face to bring down his potassium levels because they were so high.
“We were told he could go into cardiac arrest. I was trying to text my husband with one hand to come to the hospital straight away. Hearing those words about your baby is something you never forget.”
At Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Lara was informed by a surgeon and a kidney specialist that Cillian had contracted e.coli, which had progressed into Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome (HUS). HUS is a severe condition that causes damage to small blood vessels, leading to the destruction of red blood cells, reduced platelet counts, and acute kidney injury.
Cillian required urgent treatment, including kidney dialysis for 10 days with round-the-clock nursing care, alongside blood transfusions, a platelet transfusion and nutritional support. Lara described witnessing Cillian’s condition in hospital as “absolutely heartbreaking”, adding that waiting for him to return from emergency dialysis felt like the longest period of her life.
Upon returning from treatment, Cillian suffered two seizures, and his parents were warned he might have sustained brain damage. Further into his hospital stay, his sisters were permitted to visit “as there was a chance he wouldn’t make it”.
Fortunately, the little lad began to improve and his family were finally able to hold him and have his feeding tube taken out. Lara said: “The first time we got to hold our baby was such a special moment. He was completely swollen from the treatment; just being able to cuddle him was unreal.”
The toddler remained in hospital for 21 days. Cillian, now eight years old, is thriving and described as a “happy, energetic little boy” – though the ordeal has left lasting impacts on his health.
He continues to be monitored by medical professionals because of the kidney damage sustained, which doctors warned could potentially lead to complications in later years.
He has also experienced persistent stomach and bowel problems and recently had surgery to remove his gallbladder. Lara added: “What happened to Cillian changed our family forever. At the time, we genuinely believed once he survived and came home, the nightmare was over. But years later we are still dealing with the emotional and physical aftermath.
“No family goes on holiday expecting their child to end up fighting for their life.”
For fellow parents, Lara’s guidance is to “trust your instincts”. She added: “If your child becomes unusually tired, pale, lethargic, stops eating or drinking properly, or you notice severe diarrhoea or signs of dehydration after illness abroad, seek medical help immediately.
“With Cillian, things escalated frighteningly quickly. Parents should never feel embarrassed about pushing for medical attention if they feel something is wrong.”