Laura’s Story

My name is…

Laura

I am the mother/father of…

James

My child is … years old.

10

I want to help protect tiny hearts from the devastating consequences of Kawasaki Disease – the number 1 cause of acquired heart disease in U.K. children because…

My son now has two aneurysms after suffering with atypical Kawasaki disease at 10 weeks old. Late diagnosis (due to a worry his condition was myocarditis) resulted in two significant aneurysms on his LCA and RCA. It has meant he has spent his whole life on medication and many, many hospital trips and stays.

How Kawasaki Disease affected my family …

It left me suffering with severe anxiety which has had to be treated with medication. James is amazing and copes so, so well with an amazing group of friends who look out for him and understand when he gets tired. It has also meant we’ve had lots of difficult conversations about why this had to happen to him and why he has to take medication.

The thing I wish I had known is …

What Kawasaki disease was and how to fight for the right treatment for my son.

The advice I want to give parents is …

Trust your instincts – if something is wrong have it checked.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about your experience of Kawasaki Disease?

It nearly broke us all, but we’ve come back stronger x