The parents of a seven-year-old girl from South Wales say they have endured a seven-month "nightmare", fighting to be heard by medical professionals as their daughter vomits up to 100 times a day.
A Descent into a Daily Nightmare
Harper Williams, from Baglan, first began experiencing bouts of sickness in the summer of 2025. What started as episodes every few weeks rapidly escalated. By November, the young girl was being sick dozens of times each day, a situation her parents, Kat and Laura Williams, describe as utterly devastating.
At the peak of her illness, Harper has vomited between 60 and 100 times in a 24-hour period. Her parents, following advice from their GP, made multiple trips to accident and emergency departments, only to feel "totally brushed off" and sent home without a clear diagnosis or treatment plan.
The Fight for Scans and a Potential Diagnosis
Kat, a former nurse, stated she had to "fight" to persuade hospital staff to conduct imaging tests on her daughter. After being admitted to Morriston Hospital's children's ward in December, initial tests indicated a helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) stomach infection. Harper was prescribed antibiotics, but her parents say she couldn't keep the medication down due to the relentless vomiting.
Kat expressed frustration, noting that severe, constant vomiting is not a typical primary symptom of H.pylori. She repeatedly requested further investigation. "They told us they couldn't do anything until she completed two weeks of antibiotics," Kat recalled. "I questioned what's wrong with her and a doctor told me: 'I'm not a magician, I don't have a crystal ball.'"
After persistent advocacy, an X-ray was finally performed, identifying an issue in Harper's large intestine. A subsequent swallow barium X-ray on December 31 revealed a further problem with a valve between her stomach and oesophagus.
Life in Limbo and a Plea to Others
Despite these findings, the family say they remain in a state of uncertainty. Harper continues to be sick multiple times daily and has been unable to attend school full-time for weeks. A consultant appointment is scheduled for January 21, but no treatment plan is yet in place.
"Our issue is that for weeks and weeks they've been telling us that she doesn't need any scans or X-rays but actually an X-ray picked up what the problem is," said Kat. "Now we have to live like this until they do something about it."
The family's life has been put on hold, with Harper missing Christmas events and her upcoming birthday party in jeopardy. They are now liaising with the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) and are demanding answers as to why their concerns were initially dismissed.
Kat has a clear message for other families: "Don't take no for an answer. You've got to really stand your ground and put your foot down. If you know there is something wrong keep pushing."
In response, a representative for Swansea Bay University Health Board said: "We are very sorry to hear of Ms Williams' concerns. We have checked our records and these indicate Harper received the appropriate care." They added that a letter confirming a diagnosis had been sent and a review appointment made, and invited the family to discuss their concerns directly with the paediatric team.
