Mum 'disgusted' after being fined £60 for taking her son out of school for life-changing treatment 2,000 miles away

A SINGLE mum was "disgusted" after being fined £60 for taking her son out of school for life-saving medical care.

Tara Sharp flew nine-year-old Theo 2,000 miles to eastern Europe for an intensive course of treatment to help cure his debilitating condition.


The schoolboy contracted several dangerous infections which left him suffering from "excruciating" headaches, nosebleeds and a high temperature – and he even lost significant amounts of weight.

He was in and out of A&E after being diagnosed with a staph infection, a stomach infection and EBV – best known as the cause of mononucleosis, or mono.

After several courses of antibiotics, Theo consistently falling ill, and a four-month waiting list to see an NHS specialist, Tara decided she had no choice but to take matters into her own hands and fork out £7,000 to go private.

She flew her son 2,000 miles to a clinic in Tbilisi, Georgia, where he spent several weeks.

It meant the youngster was absent from classes at Green Lane Primary Academy in Garforth, Leeds, for 14 days.

On returning to the UK, with a healthier and happier son, Tara was handed a £60 fine for the unauthorised absences.

A "disgusted" Tara told LeedsLive: "What we have endured has been horrendous.

"To be given a £60 fine, especially being a single parent, is a kick in the teeth.

"I am disgusted by this treatment. There has been no care, no understanding and no support.

"I do not feel I should be penalised for prioritising my child's health. I am sure any parent, given my situation, would do the same.

"The school said we should have taken him in the school holidays, but this wasn’t a holiday.

"I went into school to explain what was happening. I needed to do whatever I could to get him well."

She explained that Theo had always been a healthy child up until this year when he took a turn for the worse.

"Eventually he developed these major symptoms and was diagnosed with an infection," she added.

"I had taken him back and forth to the doctors and we had been to A&E, but still his symptoms were getting worse.

"He kept getting antibiotics, but every time he finished a course the infections came back."

'KICK IN THE TEETH'

But, thanks to the Georgian clinic, Theo's symptoms have cleared and he has since gained weight.

After receiving the fine, Tara said she has been left feeling "victimised" and "singled out" by Theo's school.

The school principal Lucy Carlisle said in a statement: "Our Academy is committed to providing a high quality education for all pupils.

"We believe that pupils benefit most from the education at Green Lane through regular school attendance.

"We seek to work with parents and carers to identify any barriers to attendance and would always encourage families to talk to the school directly in the event of any queries."

What is EBV?

What is Epstein-Barr virus?

EBV, nicknamed "mono", is one of the most common human viruses.

Plenty of people get the disease without getting sick, but there can be some nasty symptoms.

What are the symptoms?

  • Fatigue
  • Weakness and sore muscles
  • Fever
  • Inflamed throat
  • Swollen glands in the neck
  • Enlarged spleen
  • Swollen liver
  • Rash

How does it spread?

The virus is found in saliva and spreads mostly through bodily fluids.

This means it can be spread by kissing, using an infected person's toothbrush, or drinking from the same glass or bottle as them.

It can also be transmitted through blood and semen – meaning it can be passed on during sex, a blood transfusion, and an organ transplant.

How are you diagnosed?

Plenty of people get the virus and are not aware of it, meaning it can be difficult to diagnose.

It is because many of the signs, such as a sore throat and fever, are also symptoms of other illnesses.

But EBV infection can be confirmed with a blood test that detects antibodies.

    Source: Read Full Article

    Previous post Louise Thompson ‘shaken’ and focusing on mental health after horrific house fire
    Next post The best winter light shows to visit this Christmas – with hot chocolates, laser shows and carols