The parents of a "daredevil" toddler from Bristol have spoken of their heartbreak after their son died suddenly at home, just weeks before his third birthday.
A Life Cut Tragically Short
Hudson Martin, from Knowle, collapsed and passed away on Thursday, 8 January. The little boy had been living with a diagnosis of Kawasaki disease, a rare condition that causes inflammation in the blood vessels and can affect the heart.
His parents, Damien Martin, 40, and Natalie Smith, 39, described their son as a vibrant child who lived life to the fullest despite his health challenges. "He bounced off everything," said Damien. "He loved climbing, dancing, music, he was a proper daredevil." Natalie added: "He was just full of life."
The Struggle for Diagnosis and Ongoing Care
Hudson first became ill at just seven months old, presenting with flu-like symptoms. His parents knew something was seriously wrong. "He was deteriorating day by day," Damien recalled. The journey to a diagnosis was difficult, as there is no single test for Kawasaki disease.
Doctors must rule out other illnesses first. Hudson had shown almost all the classic symptoms, but because his fever had lasted only three days instead of the typical five, treatment was delayed. "It took someone coming in and saying, ‘He’s got all the symptoms, why hasn’t he been treated for Kawasaki disease?’" Natalie explained.
He eventually received intensive treatment, including intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), and spent around five weeks in hospital until October 2024. While he improved, the disease had caused severe, permanent damage to his coronary arteries. "His heart itself was strong, but the arteries were badly affected," Natalie said.
A Sudden Collapse and a Family's Mission
On the day he died, Hudson had been playing normally before apparently realising something was wrong. He tried to go upstairs to his mother but suddenly collapsed. Natalie performed CPR, and emergency services worked for over an hour, but they could not restart his heart. "They did absolutely everything they could," said Damien. "His heart just wouldn't come back."
Hudson leaves behind his devastated parents and his older siblings: Kieran, 22, and nine-year-old twin brothers Ashton and Preston. A post-mortem examination is being conducted in Southampton, with full results potentially taking up to a year.
Now, the family is determined to raise awareness of Kawasaki disease. They urge other parents to trust their instincts and push for further checks if something feels wrong. "People should push for it," they said. "It's rare and sometimes professionals just don't know enough about it."
The family has set up a GoFundMe page, which has raised over £9,000, to help with funeral costs, with any remaining funds to be donated to charities supporting families affected by the disease. Damien has highlighted that January marks 'Kawasaki month', with International Kawasaki Disease Awareness Day on 26 January.
