19-year-old Leo Cliffe from Chorley, Lanc, has had issues with his health from the tender age of just six weeks old.
Leo’s devastated mum Vicky was told by doctors that her son wouldn’t make his 16th birthday as his kidneys were failing, but they didn’t give up, and he’s now completing a huge feat, walking the length of the British Isles for charity.
Leo has Williams Syndrome – a life limiting genetic disorder which can cause problems with the whole body. It’s estimated around 1 in 10,000 people have Williams Syndrome.
Although Leo has been on medication since he was a baby – and by the age of 15 he’d had over 30 different surgeries to help his various associated health issues – in 2015 doctors told Vicki there was nothing more they could do.
The then single mum set about making preparations to make Leo comfortable, including moving closer to her parents and organising a final family holiday to Florida.
Reaching out on Facebook for help with the house move Vicky reconnected with old school friend, Scott Carty, and the pair hit it off after 20 years apart, giving the mum some much needed positive respite from the turmoil she was facing.
Six months later, the family were given a glimmer of hope when new specialists told them they believed they could operate on Leo to fix his kidneys.
Despite life-threatening complications and a bout of pneumonia, Leo fought through and after a gruelling eight weeks in hospital, he was well enough to return home.
‘When they told me there was nothing more they could do for him, it was absolutely heartbreaking, I’ve never felt pain like it,’ said Vicki.
‘I’ll never forget the feeling in my chest, it was the worst day of my life.
‘He literally is a walking miracle and I thank absolutely everybody that has helped him for allowing us to still be together today, because at one point I thought he was never going to see adulthood.’
Vicki and Scott took Leo to Florida’s Give Kids the World Village – a non-profit resort that offers free breaks to children with critical illnesses – where Leo disclosed his final wish; for his mum and Scott to get married.
After proposing to Scott that they make his dreams come true, Vicky was due to be given away by Leo in April, but when the pandemic hit the nuptials were postponed to October.
Now the determined teen has decided that if he can’t walk his mum down the aisle he will walk the length of the British Isles in a bid to raise funds for the hospice that has supported him – Derian House.
Vicky said: ‘I could not be more proud of Leo, he makes me want to burst with pride.
‘He’s doing at least an hour a day on the treadmill which is for him really hard for him because he gets tired quite easily.
‘Once he decided that he was doing this to raise money for Derian House it gave him a real focus in lockdown but he needs some support to be able to do the full 1,175 miles.’
Leo is calling for people to help him cover the full distance, which his body will not let him complete on his own, and to donate towards the £5,000 he has already raised. You can donate here.
Do you know an amazing person like Leo and want to share their story?
Get in touch with us at MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk.
MORE: When will travel agents open again in the UK?
MORE: Sitting all day raises your risk of cancer, says study
