BACK FROM THE RINK

BRAVERY OF HEART OP BABY TURNED HOCKEY STAR

Heather Greenaway As he zips round the roller hockey rink, it’s hard to believe Conor Gilroy was lying in intensive care recovering from heart surgery 10 years ago.

When he was eight months old, doctors discovered he had a hole in his heart and he had to have a gruelling operation to plug the tear.

At the time, his mum Julie-Ann and dad Nicholas were frightened he wouldn’t make it through the surgery but their brave son fought hard and made a full recovery.

Now, he is one of the UK’s top roller hockey players and is the only Scot in his age group to be selected to play at the sport’s biggest tournament in the US. His parents believe the fighting spirit Conor showed as a baby has helped him excel throughout his life.

Former ice skater JulieAnn, 36, of East Kilbride, said: “Conor is like a Duracell bunny. He’s always on the go and would play sports 24 hours a day if we let him.

“Trampolining, football, tennis, gymnastics... you name it, he’s done it – not bad for a child who had to go through a serious operation at such a young age.

“When we look at the photos of Conor all tubed up in intensive care, it’s hard to believe how far he’s come.”

The mum of two, who runs a haulage business with Nicholas, 32, added: “Doctors discovered Conor had a congenital heart defect and he had to have cardiac catheterisation to plug the hole in his aorta.

“This operation was followed by further heart surgery as the plug fell out after the keyhole procedure. It was an anxious time but Conor’s fighting spirit got him through back then and continues to do so.”

Conor will play for the UK Young Guns U10s and U12s team in the United States rol ler hockey championships in Fort Wayne,

Conor’s fighting spirit got him through the op and continues to do so now

plays for Scotland. He has just won East Kilbride Sports Council U12 Boys Sports Personality of the Year for the second consecutive year. There’s no stopping him.” Conor, who plays ice hockey for North Ayrshire Penguins, has also been raising money for the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity. Julie-Ann said: “He organised a raff le with proceeds going to the charity. It’s thanks to the surgeons, doctors and nurses that Conor is able to play the sport he loves and represent Scotland.” Four other young Scots will also play in the roller hockey event in the US – Ross Coubrough, 20, of East K i lbr ide , Em i l y McBean, 15, and her brother Jonathan, 12, of Dundee, and Chloe Rees, 13, of Hamilton.