Louis Wilson

Louis came out of school just before Christmas 2007 and had a lot of marks over his body. The next day we took him to see his doctor. We were sent straight to the children's ward at Cheltenham General Hospital for tests. He was diagnosed with Idiopathic Thrombocytapaenia (ITP). As a result of a flu virus earlier in the winter his body had had an abnormal response to the virus and had started killing the platelets in his blood. At this stage his level was dangerously low and he was at risk of a spontaneous internal bleed including a brain bleed. Louis' response when told the news was 'Can I still play in the school football match tomorrow?' . He never once moaned even though most children diagnosed (approx 400 a year) self correct in 8 weeks. 3 years later (almost to the day) Louis's platelet level has finally risen to his pre-illness level. To say we are proud of him would be an understatement. He gained his black belt in Karate at the age of 10. He attends Bournside school, the largest in Gloucestershire and despite being one of the youngest in the year has represented them at football, cricket, rugby and athletics. He has had district trials for athletics as well as being top scorer for Leckhampton Rovers FC U12s and U13s in the past two years. He lives for sport and has volunteered to help coach and referee younger children. I feel that being a torch bearer will be just reward for a boy who refused to let his condition halt his sporting dreams.