Selfless and caring – we’re so proud of our boy
SCHOOLBOY DEALS WITH HIS HEALTH ISSUES WITH POSITIVITY
JUDGED, bullied and tormented, Olly Whalley has first-hand experience of what it is like to live with a syndrome nobody understands.
Despite living with Tourette’s syndrome and the constant antagonising attention people pay towards his noises and tics, Olly holds his head up high.
After living with this syndrome for a long time but being officially diagnosed earlier this year, Olly from Longbenton, North Tyneside, tries to help others understand his condition as well as continue to do all the things he loves.
It’s this strong and positive outlook which has led to his nomination as a Champion Child of Courage in the 2018 Chronicle Champions Awards.
Tourette’s is not the only difficulty Olly has to cope with, his ADHD and Vaso Vagal Pre-Syncope is also a big struggle for him. When he was younger, local primary schools would not accept Olly because of his health conditions, meaning Olly was without structured education for over a year.
When the opportunity arose for Olly to return to school, he was given a shorter timetable than the other children but says he was frequently a victim of bullying and teasing. His mum Laura says Olly understands that he is different to others his age but when the bullying started, the stress caused his tics to come out uncontrollably.
Since being diagnosed, Olly has been referred to Moorbridge school in Shiremoor where he is educated alone by two members of staff. He spends half a day there whilst the school helps with Olly’s educational health statement, but this is not a permanent solution.
Despite such an intense childhood so far, 12-year-old Olly has maintained a positive attitude. He is great with animals, and his passion for sport, especially golf and football, have also helped with his Tourette’s.
Mum Laura, 37, says that his favourite position on the pitch is goalkeeper, although he is waiting for cauterisation of his nose to stop regular nose bleeds from interfering with his game.
She said: “Tim Howard, the former Manchester City player, is a huge idol of Olly’s as he also suffers from Tourette’s. Things like this give Olly hope.”
Bullying not only comes from other children but the older generation as well.
Laura says that older people just think of Olly as a “naughty child”. In the family’s local supermarket, Olly can often experience “meltdowns where other shoppers look down on him and tut.
“I shouldn’t have to explain personal information to others about my child. It is quite educating, in a way, when I do tell them”, explained Laura.
Olly keeps his focus on his love for sport when the bullying gets tough. His mum explains that he has learnt to create his own little bubble and ‘kill them with kindness.’
She says that Olly is a really nice lad that is judged so much for the wrong reasons. He helps people when they have dropped something in the shops and checks that they are OK if they are hurt. Olly also takes the time to explain to others about his Tourette’s, which is a great thing to do.
Laura added: “He is such a conscientious boy who really thinks about others. He doesn’t want to upset anyone and is careful not to play around young children in case of any offence he may cause because of his syndrome. He really is my little hero”.
Olly’s parents often remind him that there are always children who are worse off. Whilst out shopping, Olly saw a young girl who was fully blind with her dad and told his mum he wasn’t bothered about the toys he had put in the trolley. Instead, this thoughtful and selfless boy donated the toys to charity so that the girl and others like her could enjoy them. Laura said: “We haven’t told him that we have nominated him for the award. I want it to be a surprise and I just know he will be chuffed to bits when he finds out”.
If you know someone who you would like to nominate for a Chronicle Champion Award this year, go to chroniclelive.co.uk/ chronicle champions or contact Amy Taylor on 0191 201 6092 or email amy.taylor@reachplc.com for more information.
He is such a conscientious boy who really thinks about others. He really is my little hero Laura Whalley