Aaron Chalmers’s ex Talia Oatway shares update on their son Oakley

Aaron Chalmers‘ ex-girlfriend Talia Oatway has shared another health update on their son.

The Geordie Shore star, 37,  welcomed baby Oakley in the spring of 2003 and the couple initially kept the news that he had been born Apert Syndrome to themselves until recently.

Following his birth Aaron and Talia revealed their ‘little soldier’ would be ‘in and out of surgery for 18-24 months’, with his mother staying by his side.

On Saturday evening, Talia shared that the little one needed another operation to deal with the fact that his cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was leaking.

She wrote on Instagram: ‘Putting your child into theatre never gets easier. They are going to try and see where the leak of CSF is coming from. They won’t put a shunt in yet as Oakley is still on strong IV antibiotics.’

She added: ‘There will be a meeting next week to discuss long-term plans if this carries on leaking. They mentioned he may have another drain fitted today.’

On Sunday, she updated her followers to explain to them that medics had found a hole under her son’s skull and he now has a lumbar drain in to help alleviate the issue.

She said: ‘Another surgery last night. They found a hole under Oakley’s skull which was leaking CSF. He’s got a lumbar drain in for now to help drain the CSF.

‘There will be a meeting on Monday to discuss the next step which will probably lead to another operation which could be a shunt.’

The NHS describes Apert Syndrome as ‘a type of complex craniosynostosis that effects the skull, hands and feet,’ with bones fusing together before birth. 

‘The facial bones are also affected, as the cheekbones and upper jaw do not grow in proportion to the rest of the skull. The bones around the eyes are wider spaced and shallower than usual, causing the eyes to bulge outwards.’

Sharing a series of photos from the hospital, Talia cradled Oakley in her arms, another sweet snap showed him smiling widely with a stuffed toy monkey.  

She penned: ‘This is OAKLEY. It has been the toughest 7 months of my entire life. I have been thrown into a medical world, with no forewarning, no time to prepare 

‘Only now I feel like I’m coming to terms everything, finally coping with how I’m feeling, embracing our new normal.

‘This is my beautiful son Oakley Bleu, he was born with a rare genetic syndrome called Apert Syndrome.

‘Apert Syndrome causes the premature fusion of sutures in the skull, causing a different head shape. Syndactyly – fusion of the bones in the hands & feet). Cleft of the hard palate causing difficulties with feed and speech.’