Doctors said he was at risk of cardiac arrest, brain damage and kidney failure
A mum says her “perfect” family holiday quickly became a nightmare when her toddler suddenly became ill and ended up fighting for his life. Lara Holt’s 19-month-old son Cillian contracted E.coli while on holiday in Hurghada, Egypt, and ended up in hospital after it developed into a rare but potentially life-threatening 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 flew to Hurghada in 2019 with her husband, Richard, as well as Cillian and their two older children, Lily-Mae and Olivia. Lara says the holiday “seemed perfect” at first, until her husband fell ill with severe stomach cramps and diarrhoea just days after arriving.
A day later, Lara and the children had the same symptoms. While Richard, Lily-Mae and Olivia were able to be treated by a doctor at their hotel, Cillian was too young for the medication and Lara was unable to take it due to other health issues she had at the time.
It was clear to Lara and Richard that their little boy was struggling with the illness and even attempted to return home earlier than expected. 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.”
Once the family returned to the UK, Lara says most of them recovered slowly but Cillian’s condition “deteriorated rapidly”. The toddler had become pale, exhausted and withdrawn – and Lara “knew something was seriously wrong”.
Lara took Cillian to A&E, where he stayed overnight but without a urine sample, doctors struggled to diagnose him. They were sent home and told to return with a sample the following day, but Cillian woke the next day sleepy and with blood in his urine.
Returning to the hospital, the tot underwent blood tests. Lara said: “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 told by a surgeon and a kidney specialist that Cillian had e.coli which had developed into Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome (HUS). HUS is a serious condition that damages small blood vessels, causing red blood cells to be destroyed, low platelet counts, and acute kidney injury.
Cillian underwent emergency treatment, including kidney dialysis for 10 days with a 24-hour nurse, as well as blood transfusions, a platelet transfusion and feeding support. Lara described seeing Cillian in hospital as “absolutely heartbreaking” and the wait for him to return from emergency dialysis as the longest of her life.
On returning from treatment, Cillian suffered two seizures and his parents were told he may have brain damage. Days into his hospital stay, his sisters were allowed to visit “as there was a chance he wouldn’t make it”.
Luckily, the little boy soon started to recover and his family were able to hold him and remove his feeding tube. 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 spent 21 days in hospital. Cillian, who is now eight, is doing well and is a “happy, energetic little boy” – but the experience has had long-term effects on him. He is still monitored by doctors due to the damage to his kidneys, which the family were told could potentially cause complications later in life.
He has also suffered ongoing stomach and bowel issues and recently underwent surgery to have his gallbladder removed. 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 other parents, Lara’s advice 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.”
