Barden Ridge boy Hayden is fighting to breathe on his own after a common ear infection. Picture supplied

Five weeks ago, Hayden was a typical, active four-year-old.

Subscribe now for unlimited access.

or signup to continue reading

After what seemed like a routine ear infection during Easter, his health took a sudden, terrifying turn that has left him unable to walk, talk, or breathe on his own.

Doctors have diagnosed him with Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM), a rare and serious polio-like neurological condition that causes spinal cord inflammation.

The descent into the illness was alarmingly swift. "Next day my daughter found him on the bathroom floor," said his mother, Kristen Pisarski. "He said he was dizzy and when I tried to pick him up he just flopped back."

After being rushed to Sydney Children's Hospital, Hayden's condition deteriorated rapidly as the neurology team worked to identify the cause. "He became more unresponsive. His eyes were darting back and forth," Ms Pisarski said. "That was scary, especially the quick nature of it."

A common virus lead to a devastating neurological condition. Picture supplied

While AFM often follows a viral infection, Hayden's case was particularly deceptive because he showed no typical signs of illness. "It turns out this has nothing to do with his ears, it was just a coincidence and he had no symptoms of a respiratory virus," Ms Pisarski said. Instead, Hayden had contracted a common enterovirus that triggered a rare, devastating complication, leading to inflammation across his brain stem and spine.

Hayden has spent nearly a month in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where he required a breathing tube and later a tracheostomy. Though he is a fighter now beginning the slow transition to a wheelchair for rehabilitation, the path forward is daunting. Doctors expect him to remain on a ventilator for the long term and suggest he may not return to his Barden Ridge home for at least another three months.

The emotional toll is compounded by a growing financial burden. Ms Pisarski has taken unpaid leave to remain by her son's side, while hidden costs like hospital parking, meals, and travel continue to mount. In response, the community has rallied behind the family. A GoFundMe organised by Coralie Passet and a group of fellow daycare mums in Menai has already raised more than $34,000 to help the family focus on Hayden's recovery.

The Pisarski family of Barden Ridge. Picture supplied