Sadly, the Leeton boy had something much more serious.

His mother Angela took him to Leeton hospital and, after an examination, Blake was diagnosed with a viral infection and sent home. The next morning Blake awoke unable to move or support his own body weight and was throwing up.

It soon became clear that something was seriously wrong and after medical advice, Blake was airlifted to Sydney Children’s Hospital.

As his condition worsened, the muscles in his neck stopped working and he was admitted to ICU with respiratory problems.

Blake was diagnosed with enterovirus which had left Blake with acute flaccid paralysis.

“It was so hard to see Blake not able to move,” Mrs Heath said. “Before he got sick he was a ball of energy, he didn’t stop from the time he got out of bed in the morning to the time he went to bed at night.

“To watch him be lifted up off the bed and not even be able to hold his head up was heart breaking, he had less function than a newborn baby.”

Blake is still in hospital in Sydney, undergoing intensive rehab to try and gain as some mobility and independence. 

His family have been told he will leave hospital in a wheelchair with a permanent disability. He still does not have the ability to perform everyday activities such as walking, bathing, going to the toilet, dressing and the ability to play with his friends and family. Once Blake is released from hospital there will be monthly trips to Sydney, rehab and the modification of the family home.

“As upsetting and stressful as this whole experience has been I still look at the situation we are in and think how incredibly lucky we are,” Mrs Heath said. “If Blake wasn’t the determined, strong and courageous little fighter he is, the situation could have been so much worse, we could have lost him.

“We have amazing families that have given their love and support for the last seven weeks and will continue to be there for us throughout our hospital stay and once we return home.”

To help, see www.gofundme.com/23tryght ​