Three- and four-year-olds are usually active, curious, and full of energy—traits that are important for their physical and mental growth. But for three-year-old Angus, things took a different turn when he was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare disease that made his childhood a lot tougher than most kids, including his twin sister Avery. Luckily, after moving into the Ronald McDonald House in Shatin with his family, Angus started to find his happiness again in that loving and supportive place, and he’s been getting healthier every day.
Wing and her husband Avis first thought their son just had a little cold, but this small episode has turned out into many sleepless Easters. Back in April, Wing’s youngest, Angus, had a high fever for two days and was complaining about foot pain. What worried her even more was that he couldn’t swallow properly while eating. Wing realized things were serious and rushed him to the emergency room right away.
“We rolled into the emergency room at the Prince of Wales Hospital in Shatin early in the morning, feeling anxious and uneasy. Before long, the doctors came over to talk to us about our son, Angus, and it was a string of worrying news. They started with CT scans and MRIs, and then we got hit with the news that Angus needed to be moved to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.” When Wing recalled the moment they diagnosed his son with that rare disease, Guillain-Barré syndrome, her eyes went red, and she just couldn’t hold back the sadness.
Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is a rare condition where the immune system goes haywire and starts attacking the body’s own peripheral nerves. Kids with GBS usually feel weakness and tingling in their legs, and it can quickly spread to their arms and upper body. Since there aren’t many kids with GBS, there’s not a lot of solid information on how to treat Angus.
Angus’ condition is acute. Right after he got moved to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, the doctor gave him some specific drugs, but they didn’t work as well as they had hoped. So, the doctor suggested he go through a blood washing treatment to try to turn things around and help him feel better.
“After running a bunch of tests, the doctor figured out that Angus had an upper respiratory infection from a cold, which messed with his motor nerves. Because of that, he started feeling pain in his feet,” Wing said. “About a week after he got the immunoglobulin shot, Angus still wasn’t getting better, and his coordination wasn’t improving much either, so the doctor decided it was time to try blood washing.
After the sixth round of blood washing, Angus’ condition has improved, and he’s started to regain mobility in his hands and feet, though his feet are still a bit stiff. The doctor recommended long-term intensive physiotherapy to help with his foot issues, gradually restore his daily living skills, and set him on the path to recovery and growth once again.
Stay at Ronald McDonald House, Shatin
After running back and forth between home and the Prince of Wales Hospital every day to look after Angus, Wing was feeling totally drained, both physically and mentally. Luckily, her family lives in Shatin, and they’ve been taking turns helping out with her son, which has taken some of the pressure off her. But Wing knew this isn’t a long-term fix, and she wanted to figure out a better way to balance taking care of both her son and daughter. When the doctor heard about her struggles, he immediately referred the family to Ronald McDonald House in Shatin (Shatin House) through the medical social worker, so Wing could take care of the kids more easily.
“The roomy space at the Shatin House quickly turned into a rehab playground for Angus, especially with his sister Avery cheering him on,” Wing said.
The location is nice, away from the city’s hustle and bustle, which helped relieve a lot of Wing’s stress. Plus, the House has everything they need, so she didn’t have to worry about the basics. “Thanks to Angus’s grandma, aunt, and other relatives live nearby, and they come by to help out with Angus and Avery whenever they can. They play with the kids and make sure they feel loved,” Wing added. They often brought us groceries and meals, which gave me more time to relax and take care of the kids without stressing out. And their dad came over to stay with us on weekends and holidays.”
Wing also mentioned that Angus and Avery settled into the House quickly, especially loving the big indoor play area. When Angus first saw it, he was excited to play, and it became a huge motivation for his recovery. Both of them are drawn to all the different toys, and they can spend most of the day playing and learning new things at the same time.
Self-made playland
To help speed up his son’s recovery, Wing got creative with the games and toys around the House to boost Angus’ motor skills. Angus loves toy cars, ride-on toys, and little bikes, which were perfect for him to work on his foot muscles and coordination. Even the way they set up the House, with kid-friendly furniture at the dining table, turned out to be great for Angus as he practiced walking. Since he’s so into toy cars, he’d often make his way over to the window opposite the play area, using it like a racetrack and zooming his toy car along the sill. This way, he could have a blast playing all afternoon.
“Every day, Angus would walk up and down the stairs, carefully leaning on the railing. He put in the effort day after day to strengthen the little muscles in his legs, and he started getting his strength back,” Wing shared. “To make things more fun, we used a bucket of water to help kids practice splashing water with their legs. This activity can strengthen their mobility and improve their coordination. It’s a great way for Angus to get some exercise and bond with his sister.”
Since being admitted to the hospital and then moving to the Shatin House, Angus has made huge strides in the last six months. He’s now able to walk on his own, zip around on his toys, and explore the House.
Angus has been through a tough recovery with a rare disease, but thanks to his family’s support and the love and care from the Shatin House, he’s gradually getting back to good health in this happy environment. Through play and physical therapy, he not only regained his ability to walk but also got closer to his sister Avery. This journey not only brought Angus back to the joy of being a kid but also brought his family together.