Boy ‘caught pneumonia from sister’s pet hamster’
Jack, 10, on mend after rare illness
A BOY has spent almost a year recovering from a rare form of pneumonia he may have contracted from his sister’s pet hamster.
Jack Sage, 10, was so ill with a rash and breathing problems that medics suspected he had leukaemia.
They later diagnosed him with the rare condition eosinophilic pneumonia – which pet Tango may have given him.
Mum Suzie Sage, 52, revealed daughter Evie has now had to say goodbye to the hamster, which she got at Christmas, because Jack was in hospital so much.
Suzie said: “It caused huge upset because his sister Evie adored him. The timing seemed right but we can’t be sure.
“We couldn’t take the risk though, and
Tango has now gone to live with a nurse from the hospital.”
She added: “The condition is so rare. The only other person who had this kind of reaction was a fireman from 9/11 who had breathed in dust.”
Jack, from Oundle, Northants, suffered breathing problems for two years, possibly due to other hamsters the family owned, but became poorly last October. He has since been in and out of hospital 60 times. Tests carried out included bronchoscopies to obtain tissue samples from his lungs.
Teacher Suzie said: “It was a horrendous time. Not knowing what was going on over such a long period was incredibly difficult.”
After the diagnosis was finally made,
Jack was treated successfully with steroids. He got out of hospital on August 23, two days before his birthday.
Jack is still recovering and cannot yet return to primary school. Teachers have made special arrangements so he can attend classes remotely, even eating lunch with friends via an iPad.
He hopes to raise £1,350 to buy toys and treats for children in hospital by doing a challenge to see how many bounces he can do on a trampoline. Suzie, whose husband David, 53, is also a teacher, said: “They made the world of difference to him when he was in hospital. I asked him why he wanted to help in this way and he said ‘to make the children smile again.’” Previous research has shown rodents such as hamsters and guinea pigs can pass on diseases to humans.
Jack said: “I feel bad that I can’t play with Tango any more. I remember having a painful rash and having trouble breathing. It was pretty scary.” To support Jack visit: www.justgiving. com/fundraising/suzanne-sage1