Covid Australia: Rare reaction left Brisbane girl, 6, unable to walk or talk with failing kidneys
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The shocking sight no parent should see – a bubbly six-year-old girl fights for her life in intensive care after a rare Covid reaction left her unable to walk or talk and her kidneys failing
- A young girl had to fight for her life after she contracted Covid-19 last month
- Mikayla Sullivan, 6, was rushed to ICU as her brain and spine swelled up
- Five doctors battled to keep her alive as her kidneys started to fail
- The Brisbane girl was ‘unable to walk, talk or do anything other than be awake’
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A six-year-old girl was left paralysed after she caught Covid and a rare reaction saw her brain and spine swell up, leaving her unable to to walk or talk.
Mikayla Sullivan was rushed to a Brisbane intensive care unit last month after the virus caused the devastating condition, which then deteriorated into kidney failure.
The brave young girl spent four weeks in hospital as doctors fought to keep her alive as the disease disabled her speech and motor skills.
The young girl (pictured) spent four weeks in hospital as doctors fought to keep the her alive, as the disease took a toll on her disabling her speech and fine motor skills
Her mum Tiffany Sullivan said Mikayla’s shocking condition suddenly grew worse in a ‘whirlwind’ short period of time.
‘[The staff] acted incredibly quickly and before I knew it we were in a room with five doctors,’ she revealed.
‘A head scan was done and she was taken to ICU at all Queensland Children’s Hospital.’
The drama started when Mikayla had abdominal pain while her family were isolating during the recent Covid peak.
The girl was taken to Ipswich Hospital where she collapsed on arrival and then tested positive for the virus.
Mikayla was diagnosed with gastro and sent home four days later.
Tiffany Sullivan (pictured) said her daughter has no autoimmune disease or medical issues
But she was unable to walk or talk, which the mum-of-five put down to her ‘being absolutely exhausted’.
The Covid virtual clinic called the next day and said Mikayla should return immediately as her symptoms were ‘not normal’.
The young girl was sent to Queensland Children’s Hospital where an MRI picked up a swelling on the brain and down the spine.
Ms Sullivan said doctors gave her daughter various medications after telling her they had never been seen the condition before with Covid.
On the third day Mikayla went into kidney failure and was unable to stay awake, as doctors began to discuss doing a kidney bypass.
Ms Sullivan told The Courier Mail she never thought her lively daughter who had been fit and healthy with no underlying issues, could end up in hospital.
After the child’s kidney results improved she was moved into rehab but still could not walk or talk.
‘We are now home after four long weeks in the hospital,’ Ms Sullivan said.
‘[Mikayla] started walking yesterday but her speech and fine motor skills are heavily impacted, all because of Covid.’
The Brisbane mum started up a GoFundMe page to help pay for Mikayla’s recovery expenses and hopes to give the girl a break.
‘I’d absolutely love to take her away somewhere for a few days just to be a kid again,’ Ms Sullivan said.
She said Mikayla has no auto immune diseases or underlying medical issues and no regular medications: ‘[She] was doing completely well for her age prior to all of this.
‘Covid nearly killed her.’
The young girl was sent on to the Queensland Children’s Hospital (pictured) where an MRI picked up a swelling on the brain and down the spine