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Hull boy defies doctors' predictions of an early death | Hull boy defies doctors' predictions of an early death |
(35 minutes later) | |
A boy from Hull, who doctors said had only six months to live, has survived to the age of five. | A boy from Hull, who doctors said had only six months to live, has survived to the age of five. |
Freddie Selby has supravalva aortic stenosis, which causes the narrowing of the arteries near the heart valve. | Freddie Selby has supravalva aortic stenosis, which causes the narrowing of the arteries near the heart valve. |
He was diagnosed with the illness in 2009, when doctors told his mother Kirsty Selby that corrective surgery was not possible. | He was diagnosed with the illness in 2009, when doctors told his mother Kirsty Selby that corrective surgery was not possible. |
Ms Selby said the family tried to live a normal life but she was prepared for her son's sudden death. | Ms Selby said the family tried to live a normal life but she was prepared for her son's sudden death. |
Everyday activities | Everyday activities |
"The thing with Freddie is he's not going to get poorly," she said. | |
"The way Freddie is going to die, which the specialist said is 99.9%, is that he will just drop down dead. | "The way Freddie is going to die, which the specialist said is 99.9%, is that he will just drop down dead. |
"That's the way Freddie will die. | "That's the way Freddie will die. |
"I don't think there is a better way to go. If that's the way he's got to go." | "I don't think there is a better way to go. If that's the way he's got to go." |
Freddie's sister Amelia, 11, also has the condition but was able to undergo surgery to correct it. | Freddie's sister Amelia, 11, also has the condition but was able to undergo surgery to correct it. |
Supravalva aortic stenosis is rare. According to the US National Library of Medicine, it occurs in one in 20,000 newborns worldwide each year. | Supravalva aortic stenosis is rare. According to the US National Library of Medicine, it occurs in one in 20,000 newborns worldwide each year. |
Kevin Watterson, consultant cardio-thoracic surgeon at Leeds General Infirmary treated both Freddie and his sister. | Kevin Watterson, consultant cardio-thoracic surgeon at Leeds General Infirmary treated both Freddie and his sister. |
Mr Watterson said he was very pleased that Freddie had survived longer than predicted. | |
"In the vast majority we operate on them, we help them and they move on." he said. | "In the vast majority we operate on them, we help them and they move on." he said. |
"Freddie is the only one that I can remember where it's so severe that an operation won't help him." | "Freddie is the only one that I can remember where it's so severe that an operation won't help him." |
Despite his illness Freddie still enjoys everyday activities like riding his bike, playing video games and walking the family's dog. | Despite his illness Freddie still enjoys everyday activities like riding his bike, playing video games and walking the family's dog. |
Kirsty Selby said she tried to stay positive about her son's condition. | Kirsty Selby said she tried to stay positive about her son's condition. |
"If I do feel a bit down then I wait until the kids are asleep and then if I want a little cry I have a little cry. | "If I do feel a bit down then I wait until the kids are asleep and then if I want a little cry I have a little cry. |
"But the kids will never see me." | "But the kids will never see me." |
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