Guillain-Barré syndrome diagnosed in boy, six, from Aberaeron

Lewis was an active young boy who loved playing football and swimming.

Even after getting a pain in his leg which persisted for a week, blood tests with the GP suggested this could be simply growing pains.

But a few weeks later, he lost the ability to walk completely, and was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome – a serious condition which damages the nerves, and affects around 1,300 people in the UK each year.

Following the shock of being rushed from his Ceredigion home to Cardiff for treatment last year, Lewis, now six, is improving and has been able to take a few steps.

“We initially put it down to growing or muscle pains, down to his age,” said mum Lizzie Danton, 34, from Aberaeron.

“But after a week he was still complaining of pain and I noticed he was walking differently.”

Lizzie took Lewis to the GP where they carried out blood tests, where they came back with no issues.

Four weeks later, during a swimming lesson, Lewis’ teacher Martienus Thomas noticed that he struggled during the lesson.

“Martienus mentioned that he struggled to kick while swimming, which was strange because he had received his 15m badge. Then all of sudden he couldn’t walk,” said Lizzie.

Lizzie, and Lewis’ dad, Alex, took the six-year-old to A&E in Aberystwyth before he was transferred to Glanwili Hospital, Carmarthen for scans and blood tests.

Lewis was rushed to Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital, Cardiff, in October 2024 after blood tests found he had high levels of protein in his system.

Following further tests in Cardiff, Lewis was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome.

According to the NHS, the condition affects your senses, your movement and things such as breathing and your heartbeat.

Some people’s symptoms become so severe that they are not able to move their legs, arms and face.

“We are so lucky that the team acted so fast because if they hadn’t, it could be very different,” said Lizzie.

After four weeks in hospital, Lewis was eventually allowed to return home in November.

Although while home, Lewis picked up a virus and was rushed back to Cardiff after it started to affect his arms.

“He went through numerous treatments and he lost all of his mobility. He couldn’t move his toes or legs,” said Lizzie.

“The last treatment has worked and he can now feel his legs and he has even taken three steps.”

Lizzie said as a family they have gone through different emotions throughout but Lewis has remained his cheeky self.

She said: “He’s been really good and he has kept our spirits up. He is making jokes and winding people up.

“It just shows how children can be so resilient.”

She added that while they still travel to Cardiff for treatment, Lewis is doing better now.

Lizzie said she and her family are grateful for the team at Noah’s Ark and the support they have received from the local community, adding: “We’ve had so much fundraising locally for Noah’s Ark. We’re so grateful for the team and how quickly they acted.

“You don’t realise how important charity services, like Noah’s Ark, are until you need them most.”

Martienus Thomas, recently finished a fundraising walk from Lewis’ school in Aberaeron, to Noah’s Ark and has raised more than £5,000 for the hospital.