Crimp family. Kushla, Angus, 5, Elliott, 4, Ian, 7, James, 6. Photo / Ben Fraser
First there was "old Elliott", then it was "sick Elliott" and then "tube Elliott" and now he is "new Elliott" and is adapting to life in Rotorua after spending much of the past year in hospital in Auckland.
They are names he has used to his advantage, particularly when he
is tired and has to do exercises. "He says, 'old Elliott would have done that but new Elliott doesn't like this'," his mother, Kushla, said.
It is almost a year since the 4-year-old contracted meningococcal B. He has had more than 100 operations, lost half of his right foot, all of the toes on his left foot and parts of two fingers. Last September 26, Elliott developed a stomach ache and started vomiting. The next morning Mrs Crimp called an ambulance. Elliott had nothing left to throw up and couldn't keep water down. When the paramedics arrived, he had a temperature of 40.9C and not long after he got to Rotorua Hospital, a rash broke out over his torso. Doctors knew he had meningococcal B.
The only evidence of the young boy's ordeal when the Rotorua Daily Post caught up with him last week at Playtopia was a limp. The pre-schooler was getting around and having a ball, "My favourite is the slide."
The family are back in Rotorua with further surgery planned at the end of the month. Mrs Crimp said it had taken her and Elliott a while to adjust.
