Alex's Story Saved Joseph.. I'll Be Forever Grateful For It

Twelve children have been saved after the Sunday Mirror raised awareness of a deadly new disease linked to Covid-19.

- Grace Macaskill And Kelly Jenkins

Kerry Postlethwaite was among parents shocked by our story about baby Alexander Parsons, who was killed by the rare condition PIMS-TS.

Two days later her own son Joseph, eight, fell ill with matching symptoms.

Mum-of-three Kerry, 37, of Anstey, Leics, said: “Joseph had Covid-like symptoms in March but they disappeared. A couple of days after reading about Alex, he developed the same cough and temperature out of the blue and said he also had a tummy ache.

“I called 111 and they suggested we get him a test for Covid, but I couldn’t get Alex’s story out of my head.

“Next day Joseph developed a sunburn rash. He’d been in the paddling pool but was slathered in sunscreen.

INFLAMED

“That was the one thing that stood out for me. It was like a clock ticking.

“I called 111 again and luckily they knew about the symptoms.”

Joseph was taken to Leicester Infirmary where tests revealed one of his heart arteries was inflamed.

Kerry added: “It was awful. Joseph said the pain in his heart made him crazy because it was hurting and asked me if he was going to die. You are trying to fight back tears but you are mummy and you have to kiss it better even if you don’t know things are going to be okay.”

Joseph was given immunoglobulin – which helps destroy viruses – and released from hospital six days later.

Kerry added: “I’ll be forever grateful to the family for finding the courage to share Alex’s story. It saved Joseph.”