A MINEHEAD family have told of how they almost lost their two-year-old son to a rare condition called Kawasaki Disease.

The Freegard family, parents Simon and Lisa and toddler Reuben, were on a family holiday in London, when Reuben woke up with a stiff neck and seemed off his food.

Lisa said: "We just assumed he had slept funny and was coming down with a cold or something."

The following day Reuben was running a very high temperature and on their return home Simon and Lisa took him to the doctors

The family were in and out of the Minehead doctors as Reuben continued to be unwell, being treated for mumps and scarlet fever at different points.

"Nobody seemed to be able to help Reuben and so we took him to A&E at Musgrove. I just had an instinct there was something more to it," Lisa added.

It was here Reuben was diagnosed with Kawasaki Disease (KD) which is a vascular illness affecting many young children under 5. It inflames the arteries and if left untreated can go on to cause coronary artery damage.

It is not believed to be contagious. It is often misdiagnosed as it presents itself with symptoms common with other childhood illnesses but a delay in receiving treatment can lead to lifelong heart complications or in some cases even death. 

Lisa said: "Early diagnosis and treatment is key to a better outcome so we were very lucky to get Reuben in when we did and seen by someone who had seen it before. 

"Of course, we did not know any of this at the time. It is only since getting in contact with other KD families, researching and finding the support group Societi that I have learnt of many harrowing stories and discovered what KD actually is."

Reuben was treated with IVIG (Intravenous Immunoglobulin) and given a daily dose of aspirin for six weeks, luckily there have been no heart complications as a result. 

Lisa added: "For me it is all about awareness now and getting Kawasaki Disease out there." 

To donate visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/lisa-freegard, or to find out further information go to www.societi.org.uk, www.kssg.org.uk, www.kawasakikid.com or www.bluemama.co.uk/category/freyas-story/.