An eight-year-old boy has undergone life-saving brain surgery after suffering relentless seizures that left him fearing for his life.
Dylan Dawkins, from Minster, was rushed to QEQM Hospital in Margate on Saturday, July 5, after a terrifying escalation in his epilepsy caused episodes so severe they could not be stopped with medication.
Mum Lianne Dawkins described the terrifying moment her little boy’s condition rapidly deteriorated.
“He went into what they call ‘status epilepticus’, which is a very severe, life-threatening form of epilepsy,” she said.
“He was having seizures back-to-back – several minutes long, one after another.
“He was terrified. He told me, ‘I don’t think I’m going to be alive. Please call the doctor.’
“That was heartbreaking.”
Doctors at QEQM initially tried to stabilise Dylan in the Rainbow Ward, but when his condition worsened, he had to be sedated and placed on a ventilator.
The South Thames Retrieval Service (STRS) – a specialist mobile intensive care team – was called in to transport Dylan by critical care ambulance to King’s College Hospital in London, where he was admitted to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).
Mrs Dawkins, who is a director at Manor Care Homes Ltd, said: “He’s extremely tired – only awake for a couple of minutes here and there – and still on morphine.
“But we’re hoping for slow steps towards recovery.”
Dylan has lived with epilepsy since the age of four.
His seizures were originally nocturnal and often difficult to detect, presenting as focal seizures rather than full-body convulsions.
“They’re not the typical tonic-clonic seizures,” the 44-year-old explained.
“He can be upright and semi-aware, so you really have to be tuned in to know when he’s having one.”
Doctors had already planned surgery to remove a lesion in Dylan’s brain, identified as a potential source of his seizures, but the emergency meant the operation had to be brought forward.
On Friday, July 11, surgeons at King’s carried out a temporal lobe resection targeting the hippocampus region – a procedure with an 80% chance of ending his seizures.
“He was already due for elective surgery, but the crisis happened before that,” Mrs Dawkins added.
“This past couple of weeks have been the most intense seizure activity we’ve seen in all four years.”
Status epilepticus is a serious medical emergency in which a person has a seizure lasting longer than five minutes, or multiple seizures without regaining consciousness in between.
It can cause lasting damage or death if not treated quickly.
Dylan remains in the hospital, where he is being closely monitored after developing an infection.
His parents, Lianne and Tom Dawkins, and older brother, 19, are staying nearby, supported by the Ronald McDonald House Charities, which offers free family accommodation just minutes from the hospital.
“The Ronald McDonald House is just 10 minutes away and it’s made a huge difference,” said Mrs Dawkins.
“It means we can be close to Dylan while still getting some rest and looking after ourselves.”
To give back, the family has launched a GoFundMe page, aiming to raise funds for both STRS and Ronald McDonald House Charities, with proceeds split equally.
Mrs Dawkins added: “We’re raising money for two charities – the Ronald McDonald House Charities and STRS, which is less well known.
“STRS is based at Evelina Hospital, and they’re essentially a mobile ICU for critically ill children.
“It’s an incredible service, but not many people know about it.”
Since launching the fundraiser on Friday, they have already raised over £2,000 and received a wave of support from friends, family, and the local community.
“Setting up the GoFundMe was in some ways a distraction – something good to come out of a horrible situation,” said Mrs Dawkins.
“The school’s been incredible, sharing Dylan’s story, and his rugby team, the Thanet Wanderers, has also been really supportive.
“Some of the images may be upsetting – like him ventilated – but it’s important people understand what he’s been through.”
She hopes their story not only raises awareness but also encourages more families to support these vital services.
“If every family going through something similar could raise even £100, it would make a difference.”
