Surgeon who saved boy's life nominated for award

Jackson needed emergency surgery when he was seven years old

A surgeon who operated on a boy who was critically ill with sepsis has been nominated for an award by his parents.

Jackson, from Mansfield in Nottinghamshire, was rushed to the Queen's Medical Centre (QMC) for emergency surgery after collapsing when he was seven.

His parents Matt and Bec said they were told their son was minutes from death when Shailinder Singh performed the operation.

The couple said Mr Singh had performed "a miracle" to save Jackson, now 11.

Jackson's parents said Mr Singh assured them he would save the boy

They have nominated the medic for a Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust People First Recognition Award.

Bec recalled how she thought Jackson was suffering from a minor illness and she took him to King's Mill Hospital, where he collapsed.

"I could not believe how quickly his condition deteriorated," she said.

"After he collapsed, we were taken to a room where a staff member told us Jackson had to enter a medically-induced coma within minutes or he might not make it.

"That news shattered our world - I would not wish it on my worst enemy."

After being put into a coma, Jackson was rushed to the paediatric intensive care unit at the QMC.

Matthew said: "In that moment, we had convinced ourselves that he was going to die.

"Bec asked to see Jackson and they refused because of how severe the situation was.

"We were clearly panicked, but Mr Singh assured us it would be OK."

Mr Singh said his training in India had helped him prepare for the situation he faced

Jackson was found to have a hernia and a perforated bowel.

A scan showed 10cm (3.9in) of his large intestine had pushed through the hernia, twisted and died, causing sepsis.

Mr Singh said he realised there was no time to spare and immediately performed an operation on a ward, rather than taking Jackson into an operating theatre.

Jackson's parents said his actions saved the life of their son, who they described as a "lively and happy" boy.

Mr Singh said: "I knew that if we took him to the operating theatre, he would not make it.

"When I was training in India, people would arrive so sick, there would not be the space or the time to take them to one.

"Without that experience, it's hard to know what to do. I just hope we can learn from what happened and help others."

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