Aussie boy left unable to walk or talk after catching common illness

An eight-year-old boy who initially appeared to be suffering from only neck pain has now been in intensive care for over a month with a condition that has left doctors baffled.

Cruez Botha-Blake alerted his parents to pain in his neck on June 5 and was given a heat pack.

But Cruez’s condition deteriorated rapidly and within four days of first suspecting something was wrong, he was unable to walk, talk or swallow. He was admitted to Box Hill Hospital in Melbourne’s east.

He was admitted to the intensive care unit and diagnosed with influenza-induced encephalitis with encephalopathy; two related but distinct conditions.

This rare condition occurs when the common flu virus spreads to the brain, where it causes inflammation and swelling.

“This led to swelling of the entire brain and inflammation of the central and peripheral nervous systems,” family friend Dawn Juhlin explained. “This condition is life-threatening because it leads to seizures, confusion, hallucinations, weakness and loss of sensation.”

Cruez was transferred to Monash Children’s Hospital, where he has remained for the past six weeks. He was in almost constant pain and unable to move without assistance.

According to his mother, Ilse Botha-Siligi, Cruez had the same rare condition when he was three years old, but recovered after just five days.

But four days later, Cruez was rushed to Box Hill Hospital in Melbourne’s east after being unable to walk, talk or swallow.

He was able to recover to about ’70 percent of his full strength, but he was still shaking a little bit, was very clumsy and had lost a lot of weight.’

Doctors don’t understand why it is taking so long for him to recover this time.

In the meantime, they are providing him with general care and giving him a cocktail of medications, including heavy-duty painkillers, until they can determine the cause of the long-term illness.

Ilse described her son as generally energetic and playful. He played basketball for local club Maroondah Magic, enjoyed playing pranks on his five siblings and was well-liked by his school friends and classmates at Mooroolbark East Primary.

But now he can no longer speak and has resigned himself to having to stay in a hospital bed and relying on a special wheelchair to get outside.

“It’s quite a shock, there’s been a lot of crying,” she said.

The distraught mother has not left Cruez for three weeks, as he becomes increasingly upset and starts crying. This is the only sound he can make when she leaves.

“Sometimes being with him isn’t enough, and I have to crawl into bed and cuddle him to calm him down,” she added.

The otherwise active young boy (pictured) has now been diagnosed with influenza-induced encephalitis with encephalopathy

His mother said Cruez had previously battled the condition when he was three years old and recovered in just five days

Cruez can only leave his hospital bed for 30 minutes after being ‘hoisted’ into a wheelchair by staff, after which he becomes exhausted and has to go back to sleep.

He has been instructed to stay in a low-stimulus environment as much as possible to promote sleep and “gentle brain recovery.”

“We need to make a diagnosis because my gut feeling tells me there is an underlying medical problem,” she said.

‘Because how likely is it that the same thing will happen to the same person within five years?’

Ilse still hopes that her son will recover and can lead a normal life.

“One of the things that really hit home for me happened about two weeks ago when one of the hospital staff members — and she had the best intentions — asked me which special education school Cruez goes to,” she said.

“I think it affected me because this can’t be his new reality. I refuse to accept that.”

Due to Cruez’s treatment requirements, there is a strict no-guest policy in place, with the exception of his mother, five siblings and stepfather Martin, who visit him 3-4 times a week.

While Ilse stays with her son, Martin has taken unpaid leave to care for Cruez’s siblings, leaving the family without an income.

Cruez’s family currently has no income, as his mother is staying with him and his stepfather is on unpaid leave to care for the children at home. (Pictured: Cruez with his siblings and step-siblings)