The following article expresses the views and opinions of one of our Brisbane Lions members. Lions.com.au will feature a column written by a different member each month thoughout the 2012 season

“A Little Boy with the Heart of a Lion”

This is the story of my three year-old grandson Joshua, who has been living with several medical conditions since he was born.

Joshua Weller was born in Canberra on 11 September 2008. A fifth generation Lions supporter, he was quickly signed up as a new Member for Season 2009, and dressed in a new pair of maroon and blue booties with “Lions” embroidered on the front, hours after he was born.

The medical conditions impacted Josh’s ability to thrive in his first six months, and by his first birthday he had been diagnosed with Hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain) and a Chiari Malformation (a deformation of the cerebelleum of the brain). The Hydrocephalus required two neurological operations at the RCH in Melbourne in 2009 and another brain operation was conducted several months later to address the Chiari Malformation at the base of his skull - all these operations for a little boy. Further tests at the time revealed he also had Cystic Fibrosis. His recovery from these ops was sometimes slow and arduous with many side issues for his parents to deal with. With much dedication and care from his Mum and Dad, all seemed well for him to travel home to Canberra in November 2009.

Life for Josh was full of tests, scans and blood tests with lots of physio, special motor neuro gym work and speech therapy. The Cystic Fibrosis was under control with special medication and we were all in awe of this little boy as each day he improved and his happy personality came shining through.

Unfortunately, the shunt system blocked in 2010 and, as Canberra lacks paediatric neurological facilities, an emergency trip to Sydney in an ambulance was required with further testing. The shunt eventually self-righted but doctors were aware that it was not working perfectly.

In 2011, after suffering debilitating headaches, part of his shunt was replaced by a neurosurgeon at Westmead Children’s Hospital in Sydney. It was a stressful time for the whole family, especially for his Mum and Dad who were by his bedside 24 hours a day for another three weeks. Recovery was slow due to an infection in his cerebral spinal fluid and Josh had to be readmitted for further surgery and another three weeks in hospital - we all patiently watched and waited for him to improve.

Josh is now doing very well, and his health, speech and mobility has markedly improved. This happy little boy, who has endured so much in his short life, has such a happy nature. He loves Thomas the Tank Engine and, of course, with his sister Jess loves to cheer on Browny and his beloved Lions.

Josh, sister Jess and his parents moved to Adelaide earlier this year as his Dad has a Command position of a squadron at the RAAF base in Edinburgh.

The entire family are eagerly awaiting the team’s Round 22 match against Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium, as Jess has been selected to be the junior mascot for the match. Josh is obviously still a bit young to perform mascot duties, but will take great pleasure in watching his sister run out with his Lions heroes on the day.

Surviving and bravely coping with all these health issues and six brain operations in Josh’s short life, I’m sure most people would agree that he has indeed ‘The Heart of a Lion’.

Hazel (Member #1008347)