Interview: Jack's Sepsis
We sat down with Michael Le Vell to discuss what will happen to seriously ill Jack now that he has been diagnosed with sepsis.
How is Kevin feeling after Jack was diagnosed with Sepsis?
First and foremost overwhelming shock, he didn’t know things could move this quickly from what he thought was just a little scratch. Kevin had seen it and wasn’t concerned about it yet in a matter of days it was life threatening.
Kevin doesn’t understand how a fit young lad can suddenly find himself in this position, it’s devastating.
Kevin had no idea about the threat of Sepsis, was it something you were aware of before this storyline?
I had no idea whatsoever, it’s terrifying, it really gets you thinking.
How does Kevin react when he’s told he has to consider amputation or could lose his son?
He’s heartbroken, he doesn’t know where to turn or who to talk to, he’s in his own little world and he feels lost. He still can’t understand the situation they’re in and how quickly it’s escalated.
It’s a heartbreaking decision to be faced with, Kevin doesn’t want to be the one who decides on amputation, but Jack is so seriously ill he’s left with little choice.
He doesn’t want to make the decision just in case the doctors are wrong, it’s so tough.
How does Jack react when Kevin tells him about the amputation?
He doesn’t understand at first, he can still feel sensation in his leg when he wakes up and it’s really confusing for him. When he starts to realise the implications he cries and it breaks Kevin’s heart.
How has it been working with Kyran on this storyline?
He’s been fantastic, obviously he’s only 11 years old but he’s acted so professionally and dealt with it in a really mature fashion. He’s done a great job, Kyran met with a family who had been through this and it really brought it home to him.
Is it important to you raise awareness about Sepsis?
If it does raise awareness then that’s fantastic, soaps can be so great at making people aware of different issues. Not ramming it down people's throats, just making people aware of different situations that affect families. It’s like with the Aidan suicide, no one suspected he was that low but the signs were there for people to see. That’s what Coronation Street is so fantastic at doing.
Kevin is battling a lot of emotions, does he blame anyone for what’s happened?
There are a few days when he does lay a bit of the blame at Sophie, he can’t help thinking if he was there would he have spotted the signs. Then when Sophie starts blaming the NHS and saying she’s going to sue them for initially missing the signs he goes mad, he asks Sophie why would you try and sue the people who are trying to save Jack’s life?
Kevin’s going through a real melting pot of emotions, how does he react after the operation when he comes back to the house? Can Kevin move forward and be strong for Jack?
He’s got to be, Jack needs him to be strong. At the moment he’s still in shock, he feels he’s let him down as a parent, he’s blaming himself thinking he should have been there, maybe he would have seen the signs.
He’s blaming himself, he’s blaming Sophie, he’s blaming the world but when he walks into the house and sees Jack’s football boots on the floor he has that moment of realisation that Jack’s life has changed forever.
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