GEORDIE Shore star Aaron Chalmer’s ex Talia has revealed that their son “hasn’t eaten for 16 days” after catching a deadly infection.
Oakley, who was born with the rare genetic disorder Apert Syndrome, was rushed to surgery to drain the serious infection from his head.
Last week, the young tot woke from his coma and started breathing on his own for the first time in days.
Mum-of-three Talia has now revealed that her son is in critical care and is awaiting results on whether he’ll have to undergo another operation.
Talia shared an emotional video on her Instagram from hospital.
The doting mum told fans: “I’ve had the team round, basically they have clamped Oakley’s lumber drain that’s draining fluid from his head out of his lumber.
“They want to see if his head fills up with fluid correctly like ours would and then obviously our body gets rid of it and then it reproduce or if it doesn’t and if it starts to hold the fluid then the option is a shunt which is an operation again in the head.
“So fingers crossed it doesn’t come to that.
“His head has started to build up with fluid but it’s whether he can maintain it and get rid of the correct amount.
“So hopefully over the next day or two I should know more. Hopefully it doesn’t come to that. I just don’t think I can deal with another operation.
“I just don’t think I’m mentally prepared for another operation for him – it’s just heartbreaking for him.”
Talia explained that the scary ordeal had taken a mental toll on her.
“I had a psychologist and I said it’s so traumatic,” she went on.
“Because the last two days have been a ‘sit and wait’ and see how he recovers, it’s sort of hit me what he’s been through and conversations I’ve had to have and the psychologist said it’s trauma – everything that I’m going through is trauma.
“It’s just a lot, he’s doing amazing, we are still in critical care – we’ve had no temperature spikes, his blood pressure is under control, we’ve not needed adrenaline medication.
“He’s still got antibiotic IV, he’s still on fluids.
“He had 3mls of breakfast, lunch and dinner, which I’m over the moon for. He lost a lot of weight, he didn’t eat for 16 days – so it was kind of like a waiting game.
“But I’ve got my fingers crossed.”
Last week, Talia told fans that Oakley was on the road to recovery after three operations.
She said: “Three operations my boy is awake and doing amazing.
“My heart could burst with pride. Son you are the meaning of strength. Thank you to everyone who had wished for Oakley.
“Lets get on the road to recovery baby. Im sharing our journey as a family and to raise awareness.”
Oakley was born with the rare genetic disorder Apert Syndrome.
Children diagnosed are born with bones in the skull and face that have fused and do not grow in proportion, according to Great Ormond Street Hospital.
The condition is said to occur in one in every 65,000 to 88,000 births and a child’s outlook can vary greatly depending on the severity of symptoms.
Aaron, and Talia share three children together which include Romeo, four, Maddox, three and one year-old Oakley.
The pair previously split up in December 2022 after five years together following a series of rows.
What is Apert syndrome?
APERT syndrome, also known as acrocephalosyndactyly, is a rare disorder that is named after the doctor who first discovered it in the early 20th century.
It is a genetic condition and is caused by a mutation of the FGFR2 gene.
This affects how cells in the body – namely bone cells – grow, divide and die.
It can increase a child’s risk of hydrocephalus, which results in pressure building on the brain, and it can also cause Chiari malformation, where the base of the brain is squeezed.
Other complications include breathing difficulties and heart problems, which require life-long monitoring.
