A Mother’s Fight to Save Her Son from a ‘Victorian-Era’ Disease
Megan West, a 25-year-old mother from Coventry, remembers the moment she first noticed something was wrong with her son Elliot, now four. It was December 2024, and Elliot began walking differently—his feet splayed too far outwards, his arms flaring unnaturally as he moved. “He’d walk and run funny, his hips would swing from side to side, and his arms would flap like he was balancing on a tightrope,” Megan recalled. At first, she thought it might be a phase, but soon, other symptoms appeared: night sweats, rapid weight loss, and a pale, tired look that left Megan increasingly worried.
Concerned, Megan took Elliot to the GP several times, desperate for answers. Yet each visit ended in frustration. Doctors reportedly told her the boy’s unusual gait was likely for attention, possibly caused by having a new baby sister, and that his weight loss and night sweats were probably viral infections. “I kept saying, ‘Something isn’t right,’ but we were dismissed repeatedly. You could see his bones through his skin, but they said he was just skinny like his dad,” Megan said.
Months of worry came to a terrifying peak in June 2025, when Elliot cried out that his legs “weren’t working.” Megan rushed him to Coventry Hospital, where an X-ray revealed a shocking discovery: calcified lymph nodes in his lungs, a sign of tuberculosis (TB). Further tests confirmed that Elliot had spinal TB, a rare but serious bacterial infection that can attack the bones of the spine. The infection had progressed so far that he required spinal fusion surgery to stabilize his spine and prevent paralysis.
“The risk was intense. We didn’t know if he’d survive the surgery or if it would even help,” Megan admitted. “But the doctors said that without it, his legs could collapse quickly, and he might never walk again. Doing nothing was far riskier than facing the surgery.”
Megan described Elliot’s pre-surgery days as unbearably difficult. “He had pain every day. He couldn’t move or play, and nothing seemed to relieve it. Seeing your child suffer like that… it’s unimaginable.” The surgery brought relief and hope, but Elliot’s recovery is still ongoing. He can walk but isn’t allowed to run yet, and doctors may consider another operation in the next six months if the TB mass on his spine doesn’t shrink.
Despite the terrifying ordeal, Megan remains determined to raise awareness. She hopes parents will listen to their children’s concerns, even when symptoms seem minor. “He’s back playing now, trying to do things he shouldn’t be doing yet. His walk is almost normal. He’s got odd days, but he’s feeling so much better. I want other parents to trust their instincts and keep advocating for their children.”
Megan’s story comes as health officials warn of a resurgence of tuberculosis in the UK, now considered a serious public health issue. Spread through coughs and sneezes, TB can affect the lungs and other parts of the body, and early symptoms include coughs, fevers, night sweats, and weight loss. In 2024, TB cases in England rose to 5,480—a 13% increase from the previous year—with both UK-born and foreign-born populations affected.
For Megan, the ordeal has been a mixture of fear, heartbreak, and hope. “I do not blame Elliot’s GP—TB in children is incredibly hard to diagnose. But I do wish someone had connected the dots sooner. All that matters now is that Elliot is recovering and on the right path.”
Her message to other parents is simple: trust your instincts, listen to your child, and never accept dismissal when something feels wrong.
