Brave boy inspires mum to write book
A mum, inspired by her son’s defiance of medical odds, has turned her “little warrior” into a storybook hero.
Just three days after he was born, doctors switched off Leo White’s ventilator and told parents Gill and Andrew to prepare to say goodbye.
They feared the worst, but the courageous youngster stunned everyone by taking his first, unsupported breath.
Leo, now three, suffers from a rare a form of epilepsy which causes seizures and development delays.
Despite the daily difficulties illness brings, the tot has outlived the prognosis of just a 50/50 chance of surviving past the age of two. Leo – who can have as many as 170 seizures a day – has proven such an inspiration that Gill has penned a book, Leo And The Lightning Dragons.
The 40-year-old, from St Andrews, said: “I actually wrote the book for Leo’s first birthday.
“It was a very negative time. There was talk about how long he would live and what life for him would be like. “He’s had to fight every day. He’s a little warrior. But the outcome for him isn’t going to change. He’s not going to be cured one day and everything will be fine.
“I thought he deserved a much happier story than that – so I wrote one.
“I showed it to a friend who’s an author and the next thing I knew there were illustrations being done by local artist Gilli B and the story came to life.”
Gill’s book, published by Fledgling Press, is a rhyming adventure story with brave knight Leo battling dragons. He tries different things to defeat them but eventually realises the most important thing to do is believe in himself.
“I hope it inspires others to find the bravery and courage to fight even when it seems nothing is working,” said Gill.
“Myself and my husband Andrew sleep in shifts and have given up our jobs in finance to care for him full time.
“Every day we’re amazed by his sheer determination and refusal to give up and we couldn’t be prouder of our boy.
“He’s the bravest knight we’ve ever seen!”