ARCHIE’S BACK ON THE BALL AFTER OP
Boy had surgery for rare brain condition
SCHOOLBOY Archie Potts would drop to the floor in agony – before medics discovered he had a rare brain condition.
The four-year-old’s illness affects one in every 1,000 people –and sees the brain outgrow the skull and onto the spinal cord.
Now Archie is recovering at home in Bentilee having undergone a four-and-a-half-hour operation in which the top of his vertebrae was ‘shaved’ to stop the pressure it was putting on his spinal column.
Now mum Nikita Musselwhite and step-dad Stevan Sheppard say he’s getting back to his old self as the family look forward to Christmas.
Archie’s condition – Chiari I malformation – can leave sufferers experiencing painful headaches and movement problems. Archie, a pupil at Hanley’s St Luke’s Primary School, is due for a further MRI scan. Medics cannot cure the illness, but can monitor it.
Nikita, aged 23, said: “Before the surgery he would drop to the floor and scream in pain. I had never heard of the condition before - it was completely new to me.
“Since the operation Archie has Picture: Malcolm Hart been amazing – within 24 hours he was up and out of bed, smiling and walking around.”
Mum-of-two Nikita says his school have also been supportive. She said: “They have been amazing with his condition. They’re like a second family.”
Step-dad Stevan even secured some signed boots from Lincoln City player Ellis Chapman after just asking for a card. Lincoln-born Stevan has also managed to take Archie to see the Imps take on Port Vale in an effort to convert him to support the side.
Nikita said: “Stevan has made him a Lincoln City fan – which is annoying! For Archie’s first Christmas he got a Stoke City kit but since Stevan’s come into his life Archie is following in his footsteps.”
Royal Stoke University Hospital porter Stevan contacted Lincoln star Ellis. He said: “I know Ellis Chapman’s dad who sent him a message about Archie’s problems and Ellis offered to send over his signed football boots. Archie’s a big fan.
“His mum bought him a Stoke City kit but I’ve taken him to a Lincoln game and he loved it.
“Hopefully he won’t be in as much pain now, he’s got more room for his brain to grow. He has been doing so well since the operation and we can all look forward to Christmas.”