Lachy – the story so far
We have been asked to write something about Lachy, his illness and how it has affected us as a family, but it would be novel size and far too difficult to explain.
Without giving away too much information about our quiet, intensely private, brave and super amazing boy I will try and condense his story.
Lachy’s love of the ocean started when he was a toddler and after watching his big sister Neve enjoying Surf Club for 2 years, he also joined Mullaloo as an U6 white cap. Lachy competed and trained with Mullaloo over the years and loved catching waves on his board after training. He completed his SRC in 2018, was a volunteer with Malibu Patrol and was chosen as part of the “Patrol of the Year” in 2019. Lachy’s other loves were surfing and basketball and he was an extremely fit, healthy and active 14 year old.
In April 2019, Lachy developed a headache followed by nausea, vomiting, stiff neck, neck and back pain, double vision and weakness in his facial muscles. Eventually, after 10 days (and 3 visits each to ED and the GP) Lachy was diagnosed with a “rare, tricky, complex, complicated, unique” Meningitis which Doctors said started from a lesion in his lung. With no underlying Immune Disorder, nobody was able to explain how Lachy had contracted this devastating and potentially fatal illness. At this time we were told treatment would take 18 months to 2 years before a full return to life as he knew it.
Over the next 2 years Lachy had 3 lots of Neurosurgery, 33 Lumbar Punctures (by my count), months of hospitalisation and he missed an extensive amount of school. Lachyalso commenced long term steroid treatment that caused constant muscle aches and pains, constant headache, recurrent infection and changes to his physical appearance and movement.
In April of this year, as we were thinking Lachy might be close to finishing his treatment, he had a sudden onset of a new symptom that required an Ambulance in the middle of the night. After scans and further investigations, the Doctors told us the horrendous news that Lachy had had a resurgence of his original infection which would require treatment to start from the beginning. They also told us that for the best outcome Lachy would require major lung surgery to remove his lung lesion and that his knee and back pain (we were having these issues investigated by the GP) was irreparable knee damage and multiple crush fractures to his thoracic spine. Bone degeneration being a side effect of steroids that we couldn’t see.
To be forced to watch Lachy suffer pain, loss and frustration over such a long time has been devastating but seeing him carry on each day with determination, calm and quiet dignity fills us with immense and overwhelming pride and admiration.
As a family, we will support Lachy through the multitude of continuing treatments while he attempts to complete his last 2 years of schooling. More than anything we want to be able to Rehabilitate him enough to get back in the ocean, enjoy a surf when he is ready and hopefully complete his Bronze when the time is right.