A mum said she knew something was wrong with her five-year-old son when he was screaming in pain and couldn't straighten his legs.
Bobby Harry, from Bebington, Wirral, started getting intense pains in his left leg in June 2022. His mum, Rachael, took him to Arrowe Park Hospital, where he had a number of tests and was cared for in the Children's ward.
The five-year-old underwent surgery to remove fluid from his leg and after his tests came back he was discharged. But one month later Rachel said Bobby was "screaming" and "couldn't straighten either of his legs".
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She said: "He was in so much pain. He was screaming and he couldn’t walk. He couldn’t straighten either of his legs, there was pain in his wrist and he wasn’t eating.
“It was the worst time of our lives because I didn’t know what was wrong with him and I couldn’t fix it. I couldn’t stop crying.”
On further investigation, Bobby was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis. He underwent physiotherapy three times a day to start moving and had to use a child walking frame for support.
After four days he started to be able to walk again. Rachel said: "All the staff were fantastic. They all knew him as ‘Bobby the Golfer’.
"It was amazing when he started to walk. Even now I’ll stand and watch him and I just want to cry because I’m so grateful. I don’t think thank you will ever be enough. The staff made Bobby feel so safe. They are all heroes, they really are. It restores your faith and we are very lucky to have the NHS.”
Bobby, who plays for Wirral Golf Academy and Arrowe Park Golf Club, returned to playing golf in September and is no longer in need of medication. He’s also back to competing and is so advanced he has lessons with golfers aged 14.
Rachael said: “We were all there when he got back on the golf course. Seeing him back playing golf was unbelievable. He’s been playing golf since he was two and he really missed it. He’s a very talented golfer and the youngest at the academy.”
Janelle Holmes, Chief Executive at Wirral University Teaching Hospital, added: “We’re grateful to Rachael for taking time to provide such positive feedback. Our staff work so hard for our patients and we are delighted that Bobby is doing so well. We wish Bobby all the very best for his future.”
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