A recent trip back home to Newfoundland from Alberta turned out to be a harrowing ordeal for one young family.

After two years of COVID 19 restrictions, Jesii Turner was over the moon to be back in Eastport with her two young sons, spending precious time with her grandmother.

The trip took a turn for the worst, however, when Jesii’s ten-month-old son Janis started showing signs that he was unwell.

She took him to James Paton Memorial Hospital in Gander, where he was diagnosed with a viral infection and was sent home with medication.

Turner says the baby’s condition worsened.

She says he couldn’t settle, his tummy became tight, he developed a fever, and he stopped eating and drinking.

She brought him back to the hospital and was told to head home and wait for the following day to see the paediatrician, who told them to give the child time to recover.

Turner says the doctor gave them the okay to fly and they immediately booked their tickets back to Alberta feeling dissatisfied that their child was not getting the proper attention.

It turns out, says Turner, that the baby had suffered a ruptured appendix which was diagnosed minutes after arrival at the Alberta Children’s Hospital.

She says the doctors believe the baby had suffered a burst appendix days earlier and somehow his body managed to contain the infection.