Like the swallows, our son Ollie came in the spring and left in the autumn. Dancing, singing, swooping - there was something birdlike about his energy, joy and laughter - but also the fleeting, enigmatic quality of his life.
When he was two he lost all his speech, as autism turned his life - and ours - into a baffling challenge. Then at four he had to face a new challenge when he almost died from leukaemia. But chemotherapy worked its magic and he made a full recovery. He was a tough survivor and nothing seemed to dim his spirit: he could light up a room and energize everyone around him. So it was a huge shock, after several cancer-free years, when a fatal brain tumour was discovered. This time his body had had enough and he died very suddenly. He was twelve.
Ollie had extraordinary courage and endurance. Time after time he bounced back, determined to enjoy life. He was obstinate, mischievous, playful, flirtatious, quixotic, funny. He generated - and continues to generate - huge amounts of laughter. And he was very beautiful. We always felt that if autism had not unravelled the wiring of his neural pathways, he would have achieved extraordinary things.
This is the story of the journey we made with Ollie. Unlike a mountaineer, pursuing extreme experiences out of choice, he had difficulty thrust upon him: he was forced to be brave. For me, too, the journey was far more compelling than any expedition.
'Like the swallows, our son Ollie came in the spring and left in the autumn. Dancing, singing, swooping - there was something birdlike about his energy, joy and laughter - but also the fleeting, enigmatic quality of his life.'
Ollie's story is one of extraordinary courage and overwhelming spirit.
Without warning, at the age of just two, Ollie's young life was turned into a baffling challenge with autism. At the age of four, Ollie and his family faced a new and unimaginable menace when he was diagnosed with leukaemia.
But Ollie showed incredible bravery and determination as he proved himself to be an inspirational fighter. In this heartbreaking true story, Ollie's father, Stephen, tells of his son's fearless battles and the sadness his family was still to face...
'A story of great courage, love, and extraordinary selflessness... a celebration of a bright, lively, brave little boy, who "lit up every room he was in"' Daily Mail
