Family’s grief over death of boy, 10, in routine operation
A MOTHER has spoken of her heartache as she waits for answers as to why her 10-year-old son died after a routine kidney stone operation.
Luke Glendenning was “perfectly healthy” when he went for surgery at Leeds Children’s Hospital on November 6, but after six operations in the space of 72 hours, his parents, from Swarcliffe, had to make the painful decision to switch off life support. Leeds Teaching Hospitals began an investigation into what happened, but more than three months on, his family still do not what caused his death.
Mother Sue Hirst, 34, said: “Apart from the kidney stones, Luke was perfectly healthy.
“We weren’t nervous about the operation so Luke wasn’t. He went in quite happily, thinking he’d get a week off school. We never thought for one second when we signed Luke’s consent form that there was risk he might die.”
His parents say the initial operation to the remove the stones was made more complicated when surgeons discovered Luke’s kidney was “abnormal”. Later that evening, they say they were told fluid on Luke’s chest and abdomen meant he could not maintain his blood pressure, and he was taken for a second operation, where his left kidney was removed. But he failed to stabilise, and two further operations followed.
He deteriorated further and on Wednesday evening went for a fifth operation to be connected to a machine to relieve pressure on his heart and lungs. But at 1.30am his heart stopped, and he was rushed to theatre again. He did not recover, and died on November 9.
Miss Hirst and Luke’s father Richard Glendenning, 38, were told a hospital investigation would take three months, but it is still ongoing. To add to the family’s torment, last month, they say they discovered that Luke’s kidney was destroyed without their knowledge, and that his body, which has not yet been cremated, was not stored in a deep freeze, which could potentially hamper any further testing. Luke’s parents sent a complaint to the trust, asking more than 20 questions.
Dr Yvette Oade, chief medical officer for Leeds Teaching Hospitals, offered “sincere condolences” to the family but was unable to comment further. She added: “Once the investigation is completed we will invite the family to discuss the findings and provide them with an opportunity to address any outstanding concerns that they may have.”