A five-year-old boy from Devon came terrifyingly close to death and was left requiring a permanent pacemaker after contracting seasonal influenza. Joel, who has Down's syndrome, endured a three-week fight for his life in intensive care, with his family issuing a stark warning about the importance of vaccination.
A Scare That Changed Everything
Joel's ordeal began in March last year when the otherwise happy little boy started to feel unwell. His parents, Brian D'Souza and his wife from Torquay, kept him home from school, treating symptoms like a raised temperature with paracetamol. However, his condition deteriorated over the weekend, prompting a call to an out-of-hours GP.
Although his symptoms didn't initially seem severe, medics were concerned about his dangerously low heart rate. This led to a referral to the paediatric A&E at Torbay Hospital, where he spent two days and nights. Despite the best efforts of the paediatric team, Joel's heart rate remained "constantly very low", according to his father.
Three Weeks of Intensive Care and a Lifesaving Device
With his heart rate critically unstable, Joel was rushed by ambulance to the specialist Bristol Children's Hospital with his father by his side. There, he spent a harrowing three weeks in the intensive care unit, connected to continuous heart monitoring as doctors battled the flu infection and its severe cardiac complications.
The infection had such a profound impact on Joel's heart that he ultimately required surgery to have a pacemaker fitted. The device is now essential to ensure his heart maintains a regular beat. Now aged six, Joel has fully recovered from the illness itself, but the pacemaker will be a part of his life for the foreseeable future.
A Father's Plea to All Parents
Reflecting on the traumatic experience, Brian D'Souza described it as "scary and traumatic" for the entire family. He is now passionately urging other parents to ensure their children receive the free flu vaccine offered by the NHS.
"Joel is up to date with all his other vaccinations, and we believe that if he had received his flu vaccination in time, his hospital admission could have been avoided," Brian stated. He emphasised that vaccinations are the best way to protect families and avoid the devastation of serious illness.
Dr Alasdair Wood, Consultant in Health Protection at UKHSA South West, supported this message, highlighting that vaccination prevents misery and saves lives. He noted the success of the whooping cough vaccine in pregnancy in the South West, where uptake has risen from 60% in 2023 to 80% in 2025.
The NHS flu vaccine is freely available for:
- Children aged two to three years old.
- All school-aged children.
- Children with certain long-term health conditions.
Brian's final advice to parents is clear: "Take the wonderful opportunity available with all the vaccinations on offer for free on the NHS. It is the best way to keep your family safe."
