An East Kilbride boy is living in quarantine with a life-threatening illness after his brain surgery overseas was cancelled because of coronavirus.
Michael McNulty was due to fly to Spain for his long-awaited treatment on March 22 – the day before lockdown measures took effect – but Mikey and his mum were crushed when they had to cancel plans.
The specialist Chiari Institute in Barcelona that the family had fought so hard to afford treatment at, had also cancelled all operations because of the pandemic.
Mikey, who turned 10 last month, was diagnosed with the incurable neurological disorder Chiari Malformation three years ago, flagged up after an accident at school.
A CT scan revealed his brain was too big for his skull, causing him extreme pain.
But despite the huge setback, mum Donna says she is amazed at how well Mikey is coping under quarantine.
She told the East Kilbride News : “We were both upset at this news, but obviously we knew it was for the best.
“We can’t reschedule until things settle down and I’m wary of travelling anywhere for the foreseeable future.
“So far we’ve been coping well. In fact, I think it has really benefited Michael as he has had a chance to properly rest, so his symptoms are the best they have been in a long time.
“He is getting lots of sleep and we are working through his school work, getting out for walks with the dog, having quiz nights with friends on Zoom and having some well needed family time.”
In the last year the News has followed the Miracle for Mikey campaign as it raised the £22,000 needed to send him to Barcelona for the treatment.
The “invisible” condition means the St Louise pupil has a severe herniation – shifting of brain tissues – of 21mm and a cyst on his brain.
For the past year, the sports-mad youngster – who plays for Paisley Basketball Club, South Lanarkshire Colliers and EK Rolls Royce FC – has suffered migraines, sickness, exhaustion and sleep apnea.
Specialist surgery at the Chiari Institute is less invasive than brain surgery in the UK – where treatment and research is lacking – and prevents symptoms from worsening.
The pioneering surgery has already proved highly successful in alleviating pain and symptoms in other children, and is Mikey’s best shot at a normal life.
Looking ahead, Donna says she is lucky her son has remained healthy and positive for the future, despite the daily fears about his condition.
She added: “Some days are a struggle with it just being us, but we are lucky we can stay home.
“We have good neighbours who help out if we need anything and friends have been dropping things off if we need something urgently.”
The family are awaiting the results of a sleep study on Mikey from February. If they show more central sleep episodes, his neurosurgeon feels it would be best to proceed with invasive surgery in the UK.
But all appointments here have been cancelled for the foreseeable future.
Donna told us: “It is now a waiting game until we can rebook the operation in Barcelona. But with things stable and Mikey having lots of rest, I am not worried at the moment.
“He celebrated his birthday on April 11 and he had a great day with a virtual party with friends. His favourite players sent video birthday messages so I created a birthday video collage for him with it all. He then had a video call with his favourite player Murray Hendry.”
Donna added: “Though things can deteriorate and flare up at any time, we have been lucky he is doing so well.”
