James Story:

One afternoon, whilst trying to play football in his back garden, James was unable to walk, the pain was too intense.  After a number of trips to the hospital, he was diagnosed with Perthes' Disease.  This is a rare condition, and we were scared about what this would mean about the future James would have.  Treatment is not possible and the only path forward is the prevention of further destruction of the hip joint.  Multiple surgeries saw James' leg broken, a section of the bone removed and held into place with metalwork.  These surgeries had the objective of reducing damage to the joint, all with the hope of delaying further hip operations in his teenage years.  James was clinically disabled, but as parents we wanted to give him opportunities that other children had, hoping he would grow in confidence.  The family and close friends around him are racers, James has seen his Dad race karts and cars and he was already playing on a comer bambino every couple of months.  With a clear love for the bambino kart, and not being allowed to play football, or other sports with his friends, karting felt the right choice for us.  Now, James not only adores the sport, but he has a clear talent.  As parents, if we put the equipment under James, setup the right way, he has a chance to win.  This passion has turned into a way of life for us as a family, one we continue to support due to the talent of our son, and pride in the way in which he has handled and overcome (so far) what has been thrown at him.

What can we all do to help others with this debilitating disease?

The typical prescribed method of handling Perthes' is months in a cast, in bed.  This inactivity was not an ideal option for us, and nor is it for other children.  There are a number of charities out there who help family and children deal with this disease who need help in managing their journey with this destructive disease