Josh Denton, who lives in Middleton-in-Teesdale, was just three when he suffered a seizure in September 2012 which left him unable to walk and talk.
Josh, who is now eight, has had to re-learn how to eat, sit up and crawl. He requires round-the-clock care, can’t yet walk or talk, and must take medication each day.
Josh’s mum, Joanna Hall, 26, said: “He had been at nursery that day and he’d been given Calpol for his temperature. This all happened later that day when we got home. Up until then he was walking and talking.
“The hospital still doesn’t really know exactly what happened. They have suggested things they thought it might have been but they still don’t know.”
Josh, who now relies on the use of a special wheelchair, took a turn for the worst at home and was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital after suffering a seizure.
“The hospital still doesn’t really know exactly what happened. They have suggested things they thought it might have been but they still don’t know.”
Josh, who now relies on the use of a special wheelchair, took a turn for the worst at home and was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital after suffering a seizure.
After suffering a second longer seizure at the hospital he was transferred to Newcastle’s RVI where he remained for the next five months.
Josh’s dad and full-time carer Scott Denton, 28 said: “He did have some more seizures. He was in intensive care for a week and then moved onto the ward. He was talking in hospital after the first seizure but he has never spoken since that second fit which left him with the brain damage.”
In just a matter of hours, family life for Mr Denton and Miss Hall changed forever.
The youngster’s condition, which baffled doctors made national headlines.
Despite carrying out genetic tests, doctors are still unable to explain to the couple what happened to their son that day but they did later diagnose him with epilepsy.
Mr Denton said: “It is hard but we try to think of the positives now.
“If the doctors have never seen anything like this before how do they know he won’t do certain things?
“When Josh first came out of hospital he could not sit up, swallow or see. He would just be laid there all of the time.
“Now he is much more aware. Over the last year he has started to really use one of his hands.
“Anything he gets hold of he will throw.
“I personally don’t think he will ever talk but it is one of them things. We don’t know.”
Josh attends Evergreen Primary School, in Bishop Auckland. He has a standing frame at school which is used with the hope that one day he might be able support himself and walk again.
Miss Hall said: “We are really proud of him. In the beginning it was as though he knew what was going on but he could not talk to us. It was very frustrating for him. Generally now he is a happy boy.”
The family home has been adapted for Josh’s needs, giving him his own downstairs bedroom with wheelchair access from the outside.
Mr Denton said: “Life has changed a lot for us over the past five years with me not working and just our living situation.
“Things take a bit more planning but it has been five years now so we have kind of got used to it. It will get harder now with his size.
“He is a strong lad and he has his own mind. If Josh wants to do something you can’t stop him.”
Josh loves watching his favourite television programmes, listening to music and enjoys a dance now and then. He also spends time with his five-year-old sister, Mia, who was just nine months old when he became poorly.
Miss Hall said: “Mia likes to try to involve him in everything. She often asks if we can do certain things when Josh can walk. She is very good with him.”
Mr Denton added: “Josh’s progress has been slow but you can’t rule anything out.
“He has been brilliant with what he has done. You can’t say never to anything really.”
Josh’s dad and full-time carer Scott Denton, 28 said: “He did have some more seizures. He was in intensive care for a week and then moved onto the ward. He was talking in hospital after the first seizure but he has never spoken since that second fit which left him with the brain damage.”
In just a matter of hours, family life for Mr Denton and Miss Hall changed forever.
The youngster’s condition, which baffled doctors made national headlines.
Despite carrying out genetic tests, doctors are still unable to explain to the couple what happened to their son that day but they did later diagnose him with epilepsy.
Mr Denton said: “It is hard but we try to think of the positives now.
“If the doctors have never seen anything like this before how do they know he won’t do certain things?
“When Josh first came out of hospital he could not sit up, swallow or see. He would just be laid there all of the time.
“Now he is much more aware. Over the last year he has started to really use one of his hands.
“Anything he gets hold of he will throw.
“I personally don’t think he will ever talk but it is one of them things. We don’t know.”
Josh attends Evergreen Primary School, in Bishop Auckland. He has a standing frame at school which is used with the hope that one day he might be able support himself and walk again.
Miss Hall said: “We are really proud of him. In the beginning it was as though he knew what was going on but he could not talk to us. It was very frustrating for him. Generally now he is a happy boy.”
The family home has been adapted for Josh’s needs, giving him his own downstairs bedroom with wheelchair access from the outside.
Mr Denton said: “Life has changed a lot for us over the past five years with me not working and just our living situation.
“Things take a bit more planning but it has been five years now so we have kind of got used to it. It will get harder now with his size.
“He is a strong lad and he has his own mind. If Josh wants to do something you can’t stop him.”
Josh loves watching his favourite television programmes, listening to music and enjoys a dance now and then. He also spends time with his five-year-old sister, Mia, who was just nine months old when he became poorly.
Miss Hall said: “Mia likes to try to involve him in everything. She often asks if we can do certain things when Josh can walk. She is very good with him.”
Mr Denton added: “Josh’s progress has been slow but you can’t rule anything out.
“He has been brilliant with what he has done. You can’t say never to anything really.”
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