Hillside teenager Liam Griffiths has had to endure more than most but still keeps smiling with the support of his mum Sharee. 72772 Picture: JOE MASTROIANNI
BY NATALIE GALLENTI
LIAM Griffiths is an inspiration.
The Hillside teenager has spent most of his short life in hospital and has gone through more than most people could ever imagine but still manages to smile and tell a joke.
And his smile had never been brighter than when he met the Queen at the Royal Children’s Hospital last month.
The 13-year-old was shocked when the Queen spoke briefly to him about the Hush CD, compiled by RCH to relieve stress for parents and children. He then handed her a copy of the CD.
“I was happy and excited,” he said.
“Who gets to meet the Queen?”
It was a particularly special moment for his mother Sharee, who has undergone a roller coaster of emotions since first finding out her son had Rheumatoid Arthritis at the age of five.
Ms Griffiths recalled the day she walked hand in hand with her son to school and he began writhing in pain.
“I was holding his hand and he started screaming hysterically,” she said.
But this wasn’t the first time Liam had to be rushed to the Royal Children’s Hospital. When he was only 21 days old he was diagnosed with a blood infection which kept him in hospital for weeks, only to be diagnosed with it again a month later.
Ms Griffiths said she had always suspected something wasn’t right.
“He was never a rough and tumble child. I thought he may have diabetes.”
Since his initial diagnoses eight years ago, young Liam has spent the majority of his life in and out of hospital.
His body is ridden with diseases including lupus, osteoporosis, meningococcal infection, iron deficiency, vitamin d deficiency and high blood pressure. He takes at least 20 different medications each day and undergoes intravenous infusion in hospital every 12 weeks.
And if that wasn’t enough, the Caroline Springs Secondary College student had a stroke in 2009 leaving him with severe memory loss, balance problems and weakness on his right side.
Yet he still manages to have a laugh with his adoring mum.
“He just pushes on,” she said.
“He’s never known not having pain or being sick.
“After his stroke he couldn’t do anything – eat, walk, go to the toilet or remember anything. The doctors said he wouldn’t get better and gave me pamphlets for nursing homes. I refused to give up hope.
“On the 28th day he sat up and spoke.”
The bond of mother and child could never be broken and while Liam didn’t recognise anyone and hid from all his visitors, he never shied away from his devoted mother.
“Mum has been there day and night just cuddling me, and saying that it will be ok, we will do this together,” Liam said.
And it seems the fight is not over. The pair may be forced to live in Canada next year after medication Liam is currently trialling will be removed from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme later this year.
Ms Griffiths said the medication, which is costing the single mother who is unable to work almost $2500, would not be imported from Canada any longer and the only way to get their hands on it will be to live in the country for six months, become citizens and then import it once they move back to Australia.
“This is the only medication that has kept him stable. If he doesn’t have it, he will get very sick. All I want is for him to have a little bit of happiness in a life of struggle.”
