Mum writes book specially for little Leo

A ST Andrews mum has penned a children’s book after being inspired by her son’s fight with a rare form of epilepsy. Gill White originally wrote the novel as a gift for little Leo’s first birthday, and named the main character after him.

But the 41-year-old has now decided to publish and sell Leo And The Lightning Dragons, with all proceeds going to Chas, which has provided the family with tireless support.

Leo was born with Ohtahara syndrome – a rare form of epilepsy which causes seizures and developmental delays. Just three days after entering the world, doctors switched off his ventilator and told Gill and her husband Andrew to say goodbye. But Leo fought back and took his first unsupported breath. He has been defying the odds ever since, and is now three.

Proud mum Gill said: “Leo is such a brave, strong boy. He has had seizures every day since he was two months old, sometimes more than 170 in a day. Half of children with his condition do not survive past two years old.

“You are always taught that if you fight and fight and fight you can overcome anything.

“He is doing that, but ultimately his condition can’t be cured. I just thought it was really unfair and he deserves a much happier-ending story than that, so I wrote him one.”

Leo got the book for his birthday, and it was only ever intended as a oneoff gift. However, Gill took it to Rachel House so the nurses could pass it around, and the idea of wider publication was born.