Brave Llanrwst toddler Harry defies the odds

Nov 18 2010 by Samantha Castle, North Wales Weekly News

A MUM has told of her son’s incredibly rare illness that has left him blind and needing a foot amputated.

Harry Wyn, three, of School Bank Road, Llanrwst, was born with amniotic band syndrome, a birth defect which can affect an unborn baby’s arms, hands and feet.

Harry has badly damaged fingers on his right hand and has a bilateral club foot, which will be amputated in the coming weeks. He was also born blind.

Mum Nia, 26, says Harry is special because, when he was still in his mum’s womb, doctors never thought he would survive.

“Harry is a fighter, even before he was born,” she said.

“At the very start of the pregnancy they said something was very wrong after finding fluid on his brain at 10 weeks, and prepared us for the worst saying the foetus would never survive.

“Every time I went for a scan doctors said I shouldn’t get my hopes up. I was going through immense stress throughout the pregnancy because of this constant worry and I remember saying to my partner that even if he did survive, the stress could kill him.”

But Nia, and partner Stuart Davies, went on to give birth to baby Harry naturally and three years on he is a bright, boisterous young boy.

“He was born severely blind and has brain damage with a development age of about one and a half years,” added Nia, “but he is very bright and bonny.

“He is a little fighter and despite everything he’s been through he takes every day in his stride and loves going to Ysgol Gogarth special school.

“I’ve just been to see him in his school concert and it brought a tear to my eye seeing him up there looking like any other healthy toddler.

“It’s hard work, don’t get me wrong, trying to keep an eye on him all the time and keeping him out of trouble, but I wouldn’t change Harry for the world.”

Nia, who also has a nine-month-old daughter called Lois, said if it wasn’t for the generous support of her local British Legion club she couldn’t cope with Harry’s special needs.

She added: “We desperately need a special bed for Harry that he can’t fall out of, as he is still sleeping in a cot but is rapidly growing out of it. But the bed will cost £3,000.

“The local British Legion club has been very supportive and recently held a Hallowe’en disco, managing to raise £1,500 towards the bed. They are hoping to hold another fundraiser on Boxing Day to get the rest of the money.

“We are hoping to convert the downstairs of our house into a bedroom and bathroom specially for Harry to make life easier for him.

“We also wanted to get a special £400 bike made for him, but he now has to have his foot amputated.”

Harry is due to go into hospital early next month and Nia hopes he will be home in time for Christmas.

“We are looking forward to spoiling Harry when he gets home, as it’s going to be a massive change for all of us once his damaged foot has been removed.

“I’m not sure how he will cope but we just have to keep going and take each day at a time.

“The warmth and support from the British Legion has been a tower of strength.”

Llanrwst RBL secretary Mick Bucknell said: “Harry is an amazing little boy, one of life’s fighters and Llanrwst British Legion members are happy to help as much as we can to make his life and that of his young family as enjoyable and comfortable as possible.”

If you would like to help Harry, contact either Weekly News reporter Samantha Castle on 01492 574346 or samantha.castle@northwalesnews.co.uk or Llanrwst Royal British Legion on 01492 640190.