My son went from being your usual ‘party-loving’ university student to needing 24/7 care in a matter of weeks after getting a mystery disease… we still don’t have answers

Like most university students, Ollie was a healthy young adult who enjoyed music, dancing and going out with his friends. 

With dreams of becoming a journalist, the youngster, from Staffordshire, studied media but his university experience was largely impacted by the Covid pandemic. 

He caught the virus aged 18 but was seemingly able to overcome it with ease, like the rest of his peers. 

That was until a week after his 19th birthday, when Ollie quickly found himself unable to walk, losing his mobility completely within the short space of a month. 

Now 22, he requires 24/7 care, is unable to move or eat by himself and suffers such severe tiredness he can barely speak. 

His mother Lorraine, Ollie’s primary carer, explained her son is suffering from a post viral illness which has caused him to develop several serious conditions, including ME (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), PoTS – which affects the heart – and Gastroparesis. 

However, there is still very limited information or cure for his condition, with the newest possible treatment route only available privately and costing £10,000. 

Speaking to MailOnline about the impacts of her son’s illness, Lorraine said: ‘It’s been awful for all of us really. We’ve got a very close family that are all involved in caring for Oliver or taking him to appointments. 

Has something similar happened in YOUR family? Email katherine.lawton@mailonline.co.uk  

‘It’s had a massive impact because we’re all just so devastated for Oliver.’ 

The mother added: ‘His life has totally changed.

‘He was very outgoing. Loves music, loves dance, loved socialising and going to concerts, and he had just started at university.

‘He was looking forward to a career in journalism or politics and this all got cut short

‘He had a lot of friends and of course their lives have all carried on.’

Ollie has dreams of going back to university but a cure for his mysterious condition remains largely uncertain. 

‘He wants to go back to university, finish his degree […] Doing all the things that a 22 year old should be doing.

‘He wants to be able to do all the things that a young lad should be doing.

‘It was a week after his 19th birthday he was unable to walk. It was bad straight away. It was quite dramatic at the time. 

‘His mobility almost changed quite quickly – not overnight but it was very quick.

‘He became very unsteady on his feet but was still able to walk – then within a month was totally immobile.’ 

Lorraine added that the NHS has been brilliant in their efforts to help Ollie with his care, despite the uncertainty surrounding his condition. 

‘Potentially there’s a treatment that could be offered to Oliver that could potentially help him to mobilise again,’ the mother said. 

‘It would have to be private.’

Lorraine has set up a GoFundMe page for her son with the aim of raising funds for a £10,000 treatment, which has so far raised more than £3,000. 

Within the fundraising page, the mother wrote: ‘Hi, my name is Lorraine and I am a carer for my 22 year old son – Ollie – who suddenly became severely ill and disabled in 2022.

‘The illness is not well understood and we have needed to source support from different specialities- throughout the UK, all privately.

‘Unfortunately, no treatments offered so far have given Ollie any significant benefit or hope for recovery.

‘I truly believe there is treatment that will help Ollie ultimately give him his life back.’