The devastated family of a 10-month-old boy claim he lost half of his leg after hospital staff punctured his artery while trying to treat a chest infection.
Little Zayn Seguna has spent a total of 73 days in hospital after he was diagnosed with influenza bronchiolitis during a family holiday in November.
The family had flown 17 hours from Melbourne to Msida, a city in Malta, to attend a relative’s funeral when Zayn fell ill a few days into the trip.
They claim his condition worsened after staff at the Mater Dei Hospital punctured his artery while trying to insert a catheter, causing serious tissue and muscle damage.
His mother Joanne said her little boy’s leg ‘changed straight away’ and went ‘white and cold’ after blood flow to the area became restricted.
‘They hit an artery which they realised straight away because his leg went pale, cold, changed colour straight away,’ she told 7NEWS.
‘They pulled the line out and gave him Heparin which is a blood thinner…because a blood clot formed.’
Little Zayn Seguna has spent a total of 73 days in hospital since last year after falling ill with influenza during a family holiday in Msida, a city in Malta
Ms Seguna claims staff only told the family they would have to fly to London for treatment four days later, as his condition continued to deteriorate.
The very next day, the family embarked on the three-hour journey to the UK via air ambulance to make it in time for Zayn’s emergency surgery.
However, on arrival at the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, the couple were heartbroken to find the damage to his leg was too severe.
They say doctors were forced to amputate one of Zayn’s leg from below the knee.
On January 16, the little boy was given the green light to fly home to Australia but suffered complications during the flight.
After landing in Melbourne, he was rushed to the Royal Children’s Hospital where he spent 10 days battling another round of influenza in the ICU.
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The family had flown 17 hours from Melbourne to Msida, a city in Malta, to attend a relative’s funeral and were only a few days into the rip when Zayn fell ill
On February 5, after a total of 73 days in hospital, his family were finally able to take Zayn home after he went two days without requiring any oxygen.
However, this is just the start of a long journey ahead. The little boy will likely need prosthetics and mobility aids for the rest of his life.
As of Tuesday, a GoFundMe page has raised $90,385 of its $100,000 goal.
The money will go to the Seguna family, with Joanne currently on maternity leave and her husband, Saviour, having already used up all his annual leave.
Organiser Karina Ruscigno said the family was ‘ecstatic’ to have Zayn home.
‘Although they are concerned for Zayn’s leg and the lifelong complications he may have, they are so very grateful to have their little boy awake and smiling,’ she said.
Ms Seguna says little Zayn is already learning to crawl and that she is hopeful for his future
The family is considering taking action against the Mater Dei Hospital, having already written a complaint about Zayn’s treatment.
They say staff failed to report the little boy needed to be taken to another hospital to receive surgery for his damaged artery.
Ms Seguna said the hospital is yet to respond to the complaint.
However, she says Zayn is learning to crawl and remains hopeful for his future.
‘I used to take photos of his feet, and I’ll treasure those photos forever. I’m just grateful he’s here. I want him to grow up doing anything he wants,’ she said.
