may miss part of his education due to hospital care and treatment, that he would be physically injured during the rough-and-tumble of the playground – have so far proved unfounded. But most of all, we’ve learned that he simply is who he is. His back is just one of the things that make him unique and special. His scoliosis is rare, but treatable and not life-limiting.
This gives us hope and confidence that one day he’ll look back on it all as a thing of the past rather than a life-long challenge. And that makes us luckier than many – when I sit in the lobby at Great Ormond Street and
see parents of children with profound genetic disorders who have a very difficult prognosis, it puts things into a strong perspective. Jack has been born into a mature, western country which offers superb healthcare to children. The genetic lottery may well have deposited him somewhere else with limited access to treatment and poor facilities.
The theme of this magazine is diverse families. Jack’s story has made me realise that all families are unique – sure, some have bigger issues to contend with than others, but ultimately we’ve all got to suck it up and deal with what life throws at us.
For Jack, it simply means that we have to be there for him when he needs us, and make sure he knows he has supportive and loving parents who are helping him on the long journey towards a life free of regular hospital visits and care. And we’re totally up for the challenge.
Con's column