A young swimming star from Salford is facing the terrifying prospect of never being able to compete again after being struck down with a rare illness.
Ethan Evans, 13, has spent the last two years raising over £15,000 for good causes after being mowed down in a hit-and-run outside Langworthy Primary School.
Read: Ethan on track for £5k St Ann’s fundraise
Read: Salford teen wins Cream of the Community award
As part of his rehabilitation doctors suggested swimming and Ethan found he was a natural, smashing junior records and being tipped for Olympic greatness.
He used his swimming skills to help those less fortunate, with regular sponsored events raking in thousands for the likes of St Ann’s Hospice, Francis House Children’s Hospice and Salford Central Foodbank.
But earlier this month we reported how the former Willow Tree Primary School pupil awoke one morning in June with a sudden loss of feeling in his limbs which had doctors mystified.
Read: Doctors ‘baffled’ by mystery illness which strikes down Salford swim star
Slurring slightly with the effects of a recent episode, Ethan told SalfordOnline.com: “When I woke up that day I thought I might have had a mini-stroke.
“It was very scary for me as I really didn’t know what was going on.”
He was rushed to Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital but it took multiple tests and scans for doctors to come up with a diagnosis of a rare hemiplegic migraine.
Mum Jenny Green said: “It’s been the worst five weeks of my life. It’s been frightening for everyone involved, to see him go from being a fit and healthy boy to decline rapidly in front of my eyes.”
“Ethan’s not been able to swim since it happened, our main focus is to get him well.
“It’s going to be a long road back and we’re sure it’s going to plague him over the next few years.”
Patients with hemiplegic migraine experience frequent attacks which cause weakness and numbness down one side of the body. It can also cause speech difficulties, vision problems and confusion.
Dr Mark Weatherall, a neurologist and trustee for the leading charity The Migraine Trust, said: “This condition can appear at any time.
“It is treatable, and patients should seek specialist advice about appropriate medications.”
Much of the treatment is down to trial and error. The teenager will have to start on beta blockers but if they don’t solve the problem he’ll be moved to more powerful anti-epilepsy medication.
Hundreds of wellwishers left messages of support on the Ethan Evans Fundraising Facebook page.
Ethan said: “I was really down about it for a couple of weeks, but now at least we’ve got a diagnosis we can deal with it.
“I’ve had tons and tons of goodwill messages, I just want to say a big thankyou to everyone who’s supported me and wants me to get better.”
Jenny added: “He’s a strong-willed kid.
“Ethan’s injuries have caused us a lot of heartache over the years, but the thing is, he still wants to help.”
The teenager is determined to get back to full health and to restart his quest for victory in the pool.
“Hopefully over the next year I’m going to ease myself back into training, then I’m going to get back to where I want to be and need to be,” he said.
Ethan will appear at a fundraising evening for Asthma UK at Pendleton British Legion on Thursday 23 July from 7.30pm. For tickets, contact the Ethan Evans Fundraiser Facebook page.
Anyone suffering from migraine in Salford can find out more information from the Migraine Trust at migrainetrust.org or by calling 020 7631 6970.
