The mother of a child born with a debilitating bowel disease has teamed up with a local cycling business to spread the word about her four-year-old son’s illness, after publishing a book about it earlier this year.
Simone’s son, four-year-old Oscar, was born with Hirschsprung’s disease – a birth defect resulting in complications in the bowel.
Requiring life-saving surgery at just 13 days old, the infant Oscar had a long recovery and to this day requires ongoing support from medical specialists.
Simone said the idea for her book, Oscar the Unstoppable: A story about Hirschsprung’s Disease, came about because she wanted Oscar and other children with Hirschsprung’s to have a book they could relate to.
“We wanted to share Oscar’s story and show how amazing he is and that the disease doesn’t stop him doing anything,” Simone said.
“When he was diagnosed, we longed to read him a book about the disease but couldn’t find one, so I decided to write one for him.
“Even though the book is about Hirschsprung’s Disease, the overarching message is about how Oscar can do still do all the things his peers can do, how the disease doesn’t limit him, and it shows other children they can be the same – unstoppable.”
Family friends Steve and Renatie, who own Foothills Cycles in Kelmscott, bought copies to read to their own children, and suggested the idea of a colouring competition to raise awareness about the disease, offering a micro-scooter as the winning prize alongside a copy of Simone’s book.
“It isn’t about getting more people in the door or anything,” Steve said.
“It isn’t a big cost to us and from my perspective it’s just about helping out, getting the word out there.”
Entry forms for the colouring competition, which will run until July 21, can be collected at Foothills Cycles in Kelmscott or downloaded at oscartheunstoppable.com
