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Fletcher’s story
Constipation led to a build up and blockage of poo so severe, Fletcher's bowel stretched and he was unable to control his bowel movements. Here, his mum Hannah shares his journey, including his brilliantly brave fundraising efforts for ERIC.
Last December, Fletcher, then aged just 5, was admitted to hospital. He’d suffered a severe blockage in his bowel and needed urgent treatment.
He was discharged just in time to board the Santa Train, an experience he’d been looking forward to all year. Sadly, just days later, he was rushed back to hospital in excruciating pain.
His mum first noticed something wasn’t right with Fletcher’s toileting when he was just 6 months old, but the cause remained a mystery.
Extreme pain
Over the years, Fletcher has lost out on countless childhood experiences due to constipation that left him severely impacted. The build up and blockage of poo eventually stretched his bowel and he was left unable to control his bowel movements.
Hannah says: “At nursery, he withdrew from activities and other children, cowering in the corner. Then he stopped walking because he was in so much pain.”
Without a proper diagnosis and treatment, things grew extreme for the family.
“Fletcher was vomiting faeces from the mouth. He was screaming in pain most nights, rolling around on the floor. Eventually, we couldn’t go out anymore because he just couldn’t walk.
“It was horrible. We just didn’t know what to do, where to turn. Fletcher would often ask why this is happening to him, why he couldn’t go to the toilet like everybody else.”
Fletcher would ask why this is happening to him, why he couldn’t go to the toilet like everybody else.
Support from ERIC
Hannah found advice, resources and stories of other families who were struggling as she was on the ERIC website. “I soon realised we weren't alone and found a way forward.”
After hearing about the work ERIC does with children like him, Fletcher bravely decided to fundraise for the charity. He first raised money by selling poo emoji keyrings, which gave him a way of talking about his condition with friends and family, helping to break the stigma around it.
In addition, and despite his mobility issues, Fletcher decided to do a sponsored litter pick of every park in his local area, with supporters sponsoring him online.
Now, Fletcher has been diagnosed with slow transit constipation and he’s due further investigations. It takes the family an hour and 45 minutes to do his medication rounds every day. But thankfully, his condition has improved.
Fletcher’s journey has affected his mental health. Hannah says: “He often asks now to look back at photos of before he had his NG tube, to remember what he looked like before. He asks why he isn’t like everybody else, which is really hard.
“As parents we felt helpless and even there are days now, I still do, because I just don’t know how to fix it.”
Amazingly, Fletcher remains a strong, determined little boy. Hannah says: “Despite everything, he still gets up every day with a smile. He still tries his best at everything. He is super amazing!”
As told to ERIC by Fletcher's mum Hannah
Donate to help children like Fletcher
It costs around £40 for a continence expert to provide 30 minutes’ telephone support to parents of children like Fletcher.
Your donations mean we can keep offering that service and online support, so parents and children struggling with bladder and bowel issues can receive the reassurance and advice they need.
Please give what you can so we can continue to give parents and children the gift of support, advice and a listening ear this Christmas.
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Donate to help children like Fletcher
It costs around £40 for a continence expert to provide 30 minutes’ telephone support to parents of children like Fletcher. Please give what you can so we can continue to give parents and children the gift of support, advice and a listening ear this Christmas.
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