Devastating scenes in BBC documentary Hospital show anxious parents insist there ‘will be a time’ their son recovers – hours before he passes away.
Jack, 22, was born healthy but suffered a catastrophic brain injury at the age of eight, after he was hit by a car outside his house as he crossed the road.
The youngster was left with severe disabilities and very little cognitive function.
His life was saved by medics at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, and Jack’s parents have since devoted their lives to caring for him at home. But just before Christmas Jack was re-admitted to the hospital after suffering renal failure and a chest infection.
As his health deteriorated, the heartbreaking hours before his death were captured on camera, during which his tearful parents comforted each other and clung onto the hope that there would be a time their son ‘gets better’.
Jack, 22, pictured in hospital, was born healthy but suffered a catastrophic brain injury at the age of eight, after he was hit by a car outside his house as he crossed the road
Jack developed severe cerebral palsy as well as a slew of other ailments as a result of his tragic accident.
His father recalled: ‘It was a Saturday, Liverpool were playing Fulham. Sharon phoned me first, but I couldn’t understand a word, she was frantic, she was screaming.
‘Someone took the phone off her and told me what had happened. He was on the left-hand side of the road, it wasn’t a terribly busy road.
‘He was facing away and the traffic was coming up behind him, and anyway, Jack turned around and was hit by the car.
‘At the time it was like he was dead. He was lost and we were lost.’
Jack’s parents have devoted their lives to caring for him at home, but he was admitted to hospital after suffering renal failure and a chest infection
Jack, pictured left before, developed severe cerebral palsy as well as a slew of other ailments as a result of his tragic accident (pictured right after)
Jack is one of over 30 ‘children’ over the age of 18 at Alder Hey with ‘extremely complex’ needs and who haven’t managed to transition to adult care and require input from many different specialities.
Jack and others like him are currently on an ‘exemption’ register at the hospital, which allows them to continue to be treated while their move to adult services is discussed.
His mum Sharon explained: ‘He could be in four different hospitals. He’s in the best place for me, it’s a children hospital. They give that bit more… and even though Jack’s 22, I still class him as my baby.’
Later Jack’s health took a turn for the worst as he developed further chest and lung infections.
Discussing the day of his son’s accident, Jack’s father told how his wife Sharon rang him frantic after he was hit by the car
Jack’s father battled to compose himself as his son took a turn for the worst during the programme
His doctor explained: ‘I was told when he came in this morning that Jack had an apnea episode, which means he stopped breathing at some point over night.
‘I think it was initially for a few seconds, then the episodes got more frequent. So at about five o’clock, they had to take him down to the high intensity unit, so we are supporting him to the maximum at the moment. But I’m still very worried about him.’
In tears, the parents hugged before his dad insisted: ‘There will be a time he gets better. There will be.’
The following morning, Jack’s doctor revealed that he had tragically passed away, and expressed her sadness that he wouldn’t be home to spend Christmas with his family.
Jack’s tearful parents comforted each other and clung onto the hope that there would be a time their son ‘gets better’
She said: ‘Saturday morning Jack deteriorated very quickly. I think he just went into cardiac and respiratory arrest and despite 20 minutes of trying to bring him back, we lost him.
‘I really didn’t foresee this coming so quickly. It doesn’t look like there’s anything else we could have done.’
Becoming emotional, she went on: ‘Saturday morning was really sad. The first thing I thought was that his mum has decorated his room for Christmas and he won’t be there, the room will be empty.’
The following morning, Jack’s doctor revealed that he had tragically passed away, and expressed her sadness that he wouldn’t be home to spend Christmas with his family
Viewers were left distraught by the tragic moment, with many taking to Twitter to praise Jack’s brave parents and the compassionate staff at Alder Hey Hospital.
One tweeted: ‘The magnificent doctors and nurses #hospital work with professionalism, and humility in the most challenges of all situations. RIP Jack you beautiful young man.’
Another admitted: ‘Poor Jack – I shouldn’t watch #hospital it always makes me cry.’
And one wrote: ‘Jack [broken heart emoji] one thing’s for sure, all of their parents are just amazing good people.’
Viewers were left distraught by the tragic moment, with many taking to Twitter to praise Jack’s brave parents and the compassionate staff at Alder Hey Hospital