Patrick Askham, 8, breaks out in painful hives if his skin is exposed to sunlight (Picture: SWNS)
A brave little boy who has undergone six organ transplants has become allergic – to the the sun.
Patrick Askham, 8, breaks out in painful hives if his skin is exposed to direct sunlight and can even need hospital treatment due to a weakened immune system.
And it means he misses out on play time with older sister Molly, 10, and brother Carrick, 14, and doesn’t even go to school for fear of a flare up.
Patrick was born with Gastroschisis, a defect that means his organs were on the outside of his body.
Brave Patrick Askham stays positive thanks to his family (Picture: Michelle Askham / SWNS)
Patrick Askham, Michelle Askham and Peter Askham (Picture: Michelle Askham / SWNS)
While it can be a common procedure to fix, Patrick suffered complications and had to have a bowel transplant when he was just four.
But his body rejected the organ so it was removed and in December last year, he had a stomach, liver, small bowel, large bowel and pancreas transplant.
Mum Michelle, 37, said: ‘He can go outside but he has to be covered in complete sunblock.
‘Even then, he walked up the garden last year and ended up covered in hives.
Michelle is Patrick’s full-time carer (Picture: Michelle Askham / SWNS)
Patrick Askham has had six organ transplants (Picture: Michelle Askham / SWNS)
‘At the moment, he can’t go to school or even go to Asda because of it.
‘But he doesn’t feel sorry for himself at all because he has been taught to love who he is. He’s amazing.
‘He’s a very mature eight-year-old but he should be there picking what ice cream he wants to have.
‘No eight-year-old should have to go through with all of this.’
The complications with Gastroschisis means that Patrick, of Leeds, West Yorks., also has epilepsy, brittle bones disease and he often becomes dehydrated.
Michelle, who is Patrick’s full-time carer, said when the rest of his family are spending time together outside, he has to consider ‘if it’s worth getting ill.’
She added: ‘The thing about Patrick is that if he wants to do something, he will consider doing it.
‘He knows he will flare up and end up so sick and be covered head to toe in burns.
‘So he’s got to consider if it’s worth getting ill.’
Register a decision to donate an organ and make a difference to people like Patrick by clicking here