Television personality Charlotte Dawson has shared a distressing update about her two-year-old son Jude, who was urgently hospitalised and placed on oxygen after experiencing severe breathing difficulties. The 33-year-old mother detailed the "scary" night on Instagram, revealing this latest health emergency occurred merely three weeks after Jude's previous hospital treatment for the same respiratory virus.
Emergency Hospital Admission
In a video posted from Jude's hospital bed on Tuesday, Dawson recounted how her toddler's condition deteriorated rapidly overnight. "He couldn't even breathe last night," she told followers. "He's been off oxygen now for about two hours. He is on his inhalers every two hours. His oxygen kept dropping, that's why."
The situation became so critical that Dawson called emergency services at six o'clock in the morning. "Thank God they sent an ambulance and they blue-lighted him straight up," she explained. "His oxygen levels were so low and he was so grey and so white, his colour. And then we got up here, we were really worried about him."
Recurring Respiratory Struggles
This represents Jude's latest battle with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) bronchitis, a common winter virus that causes coughs and colds but can be particularly severe in young children. Dawson revealed that Jude has faced multiple hospitalisations due to this condition throughout his young life.
"We literally can't catch a break with this RSV with Jude," Dawson lamented. "We were literally in here three weeks ago, and now we're back. It's just always going to be a weak spot for him."
The toddler's medical history includes being hospitalised with RSV at just seven weeks old, when he required oxygen support for six days. Doctors warned Dawson at that time that Jude might not have survived if he had arrived at hospital a day later. He was hospitalised again with the same condition at eight months old.
Mother's Emotional Account
Dawson provided a vivid description of the frightening night preceding Jude's hospital admission. "He was literally in the night last night just coughing his guts up, and it was awful," she recalled. "He usually always sleeps in his own bed, in his own cot, he's amazing at sleeping - but last night, I kept bringing him into me because he was just kept screaming for me."
The situation escalated when Jude began pleading, "mummy, mummy, I can't breathe. I can't lie down. My chest hurts." Dawson decided to remain overnight at the hospital, explaining, "I'm glad I'm staying tonight, because, to be honest, if I got home and he got worse again, there's just... there's just no point. At least I'm in the right place."
Positive Developments and Family Support
Despite the frightening circumstances, Dawson shared some positive news about Jude's recovery. In a separate Instagram post, she uploaded a sweet video showing her and Jude enjoying buttered toast together in his hospital bed, attempting to distract him from his illness.
She captioned the video: "After such a magical weekend we have had an unexpected trip to hospital again with my Judey this morning, we were only here 3 weeks ago!!! But he struggles so much with RSV and his breathing - been such a scary morning and day but he's just amazing how quickly he makes his recovery."
Dawson added optimistically: "We are having yummy hospital toast now in bed as we have to stay over.. he's been off oxygen for a few hours now so hopefully the only way is up now."
Previous Health Updates
This incident follows a similar health scare in December when Dawson explained that Jude had suffered a "horrible turn" due to RSV bronchitis. At that time, she noted on her Instagram Story: "Jude is a lot better, he has come round and a miraculous recovery really. It's been a lot."
She added during that previous hospitalisation: "He really struggles with this RSV and I think he will forever really. The last time that he was in he didn't have to be put on oxygen but his levels were that bad this time."
Dawson shares Jude, along with his siblings Noah, five, and Gigi, eight months, with her partner Matt Sarsfield. During previous health emergencies, she has expressed gratitude for family support, stating in an earlier update: "Thank god for daddy and grandad last night and today."
The television personality has been candid about the emotional toll of her son's recurring health issues, previously describing a particularly difficult week when she said: "The worst week ever this, I put my phone in the washing machine, the car broke down, my train got cancelled and Jude is in the hospital."
