Olivia Bowen has revealed that her four-year-old son, Abel, almost lost his eye after a freak accident at nursery. The youngster was playing with a stick that became impaled in his eye during forest school.
The former Love Island star, 32, recalled the incident, saying it was one of the "scariest" moments of her life after seeing her young son drenched in blood. Olivia, who shares son Abel and daughter Siena Grace, 14 months, with her husband, Alex Bowen, said it was her son's "first big accident" and left them completely traumatised.
Emergency surgery and recovery
"When we got there, he just had a patch over his eye; there was blood everywhere," she said. She went on to add: "We didn't know whether it had gone right into his eye and touched his eyeball, if it had missed it, if it was stuck, we had no clue, because he wouldn't let us open it."
Her son underwent surgery to repair his sliced tear duct, as well as having a stent fitted to assist drainage during his recovery. Thankfully, Abel recovered with 20-20 vision.
Campaign for free eye tests
Speaking to The Sun, Olivia went on to add: "I've never really thought about how important eyesight is, it's something we take for granted every single day, especially with the kids, starting school, learning to read, it's something I've never particularly thought about until that moment."
Following young Abel's terrifying health scare, Olivia is now backing a campaign with The College of Optometrists, encouraging parents to take their children for a free eye test before they start primary school.
Family relocation plans
The terrifying incident comes after the reality star revealed that she and Alex were considering relocating to Europe with their family. However, Olivia disclosed that she was torn due to "everything going on right now".
"Every day I wake up thinking about moving our life to Spain for the kids (and for us obviously)," she said on Instagram. The TV star went on to add: "I wake up thinking about homeschooling too. With Abel due to start school this year, a lot doesn't sit right."
"Everything is so heavy at the moment, it's why I haven't been very active online. I am so worried for everyone. We've spoken about moving to a different lifestyle abroad for a good couple of years, but the last few months it's come up more than ever."
"I can't work out whether it's because I genuinely do want to move or, I'm trying to escape the feeling of constant worry about the world & I'm imagining that if I move I'll move away from that."
The star went on to add: "But like I said to the girls, it's not like I am moving planets. Hope everyone is ok! P.S. If you have moved to Marbella with young kids (surrounding villages) please message me." Olivia was soon flooded with messages of support as she confirmed that she and her family would start the "journey" later this year.
