A young child in the United Kingdom recently suffered from a potentially fatal autoimmune reaction called Stevens Johnson Syndrome, or SJS. The young child, Oakley Orange, was initially given a 65 percent chance of survival.

The story, first reported in Kent Online, states that the 7-year-old suffered from serious complications. The damage to his skin left the child hypothermic, and in his weakened state, the boy suffered a lung infection. This left the child so devastated he couldn’t even breathe on his own.

SJS is a reaction that causes the immune system to go haywire and attacks the patient’s own skin, treating it like an invading germ. Once the reaction kicks off, the syndrome typically starts with vague, flu-like symptoms. This progresses to a skin rash, with blisters, then sores, and then ulcers. The damage can spread to the eyes, mouth, and even the surface of the internal organs. The reaction is almost always caused by a reaction to medication. The Kent Online article states that Oakley’s SJS was triggered by an unnamed medication.

Upon hearing the news that young Oakley was admitted to the hospital, a family friend began to organize fundraising efforts to send the child and his family, including three siblings, to a Disney World vacation in Florida.

Oakley is recovering, though still in serious condition. As bad as his SJS was, it could have been worse. SJS patients are often blinded, suffer organ damage, and many die from the reaction. The boy’s skin was reportedly healing and he was laughing again. The promise of a trip to Disney World in Florida for his entire family has improved his morale and appears to be encouraging the child to heal.

Lawsuits have been filed by families in situations similar to young Oakley’s. These lawsuits allege that drug companies have not done enough to protect the general public from the risks of SJS and other extreme drug reactions. SJS lawsuits seek the cost of medical expenses and lost wages. In the U.S., patients and their survivors often have more cause to seek legal remedy, as healthcare can cost more in the United States than the United Kingdom.