Our son, 12, cried out ‘mum, help' before he suddenly died – he'd gone to ‘rest in bed' just hours before
Tomas Remeikis, 12, had been diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension as a child after doctors discovered a hole in his heart.
Pulmonary hypertension is a condition that affects the blood vessels in the lungs, and in children can stem from various underlying conditions, including congenital heart defects, lung diseases, and genetic factors.
But despite his diagnosis, Tomas lived a healthy life for many years - cycling to school every day and attending taekwondo classes twice a week.
It wasn't until May 26 this year that Tomas, who was born in Manchester but moved to Southport two years ago, fell ill.
Despite being rushed to hospital, he tragically died.
When Tomas was a young child he often experienced shortness of breath and tiredness - two symptoms of pulmonary hypertension.
His dad, Andrius Remeikis, told Liverpool Echo: "He was just ill all the time but we thought it was chest infections. Then his mum went to see her parents when he was about two and half, three years old, and he was walking with his granddad on a little scooter.
"Tomas used to stop to catch breath and his granddad became a bit suspicious. He said, he shouldn't be so tired."
Pulmonary hypertension can lead to serious complications like heart failure, which can be fatal.
When Tomas' hole in his heart was discovered, he underwent urgent surgery, which was successful.
He was then required to take medication every day and also received regular checkups at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.
Understanding blood clots
Following the surgery, once or twice a year Tomas would feel dizzy.
But nothing would show up in tests and he otherwise appeared stable.
Around a week before his death, Tomas started feeling poorly with a cough and a temperature, but soon felt better.
However, he fell ill again on the Bank Holiday Monday in May.
Andrius said: "I had just made breakfast and he wasn't feeling well. I asked the same questions about his lungs and heart but he just had a cough.
"He said, I'll go rest in bed for a bit. In the afternoon he got up again and I made him some tea. I asked how he was feeling and he said, maybe a bit better.
"Then it just all happened all of a sudden. I was with my wife and we decided to go to the hospital. She started getting his trousers out and then she shouted at me, saying, his lips are getting blue. He shouted, 'mum, help' and we called the ambulance. Then he lost consciousness."
An ambulance arrived to take Tomas to hospital, but his family aren't exactly sure when or why he died.
While a post-mortem has said it looks like his heart failed, the cause of death will be determined by an inquest.
Tomas' family has asked for donations to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association, who supported him throughout his life.
His heart will be donated to them for medical research.
Andrius said: "Tomas was kind, friendly, loving and outgoing. He really got along with everyone that he came in contact with. Anyone who spent time with him loved him."
Warning signs of pulmonary hypertension
PULMONARY hypertension is high blood pressure in the blood vessels that supply the lungs (pulmonary arteries).
It's a serious condition that can damage the right side of the heart.
The changes in the pulmonary arteries that lead to pulmonary hypertension can be caused by:
various conditions that cause problems with the smaller branches of the pulmonary arteries (PAH)
conditions that affect the left side of the heart
lung diseases or a shortage of oxygen in the body (hypoxia)
blood clots that cause narrowing or a blockage in the pulmonary arteries
Symptoms include:
shortness of breath
tiredness
feeling faint or dizzy
chest pain (angina)
a racing heartbeat (palpitations)
swelling (oedema) in the legs, ankles, feet or tummy (abdomen)
If you have any symptoms you should see a GP.
If you get sudden chest pain that does not stop after a few minutes, or you have heart palpitations with chest pain, shortness of breath or feeling faint call 999 or go to A&E.
These could be a sign of another condition such as a blood clot in your lungs or a serious heart problem.
Source: NHS
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