AT the tender age of ten, Hamish Robinson is already a trampolinist, magician, ice skater and actor.
It’s an even more remarkable feat when you consider Hamish, of Over Hulton, suffers from such rare and severe health difficulties that he is the only person on the planet to have his chromosomal condition.
His condition means that Hamish’s kidney is in his leg, he only has hearing in one ear, he suffers severe asthmatic attacks, he has spinal problems, learning difficulties and requires a computer to speak.
It also means he is pre-disposed to develop bowel cancer when he reaches adulthood, hence the annual scans.
“That was the thing that really made me fall apart,” said his mother Kay, (48), who has raised Hamish as a single parent.
Born prematurely and weighing just two pounds, it was assumed that he was a healthy, albeit small baby.
“It was only later that I suspected things weren’t right,” said Kay. “He wasn’t speaking, he wasn’t doing the sort of things he should have been doing.”
It was then that a geneticist discovered that Hamish had a unique chromosomal depletion, a condition that no-one else in the world has ever had.
He had his first operation - for a hernia - at the age of four months and has been under eight different consultants, including and endocrinologist, a gastroenterologist and an immunologist.
“It’s so hard knowing his condition is unique because no-one knows what to expect. Research is ongoing and his geneticist has written a paper on Hamish, but there’s no knowing what’s going to happen.”
Kay, 48,who gave up her career as a lecturer in international relations to care for Hamish, was determined that he should have a mainstream education.
“He’s such a personable and sociable boy with a magnetic personality. I just knew putting him in a specialist school would limit him.
“He’s been so happy at St Peter and Paul’s RC Primary School. He’s loved it and he’s shone.”
Hamish has appeared in pantomime at The Albert Halls for the past three years, is a regular at Jump X-Treme and will shortly be trying for his black belt in karate, after taking up the sport at the age of five.
During Christmas, he so impressed staff at the Victoria Square ice-rink with his natural skating ability that they presented him with a certificate and a pair of ice skates, and he has now been signed up for lessons at Blackburn ice rink.
“He just takes it all in his stride,” said Kay. “I don’t know how he does it.”
“Being with him has inspired me. He’s been the biggest blessing of my life. I even chose the song, You’re the Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me to be played at his baptism.”
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