Noah, born with just 2% of his brain, shows that anything is possible after surgery to allow him to walk and play football

26 May 2021

A nine-year-old boy born with just two percent of his brain is hoping to be able to walk and play football for the first time after undergoing a five-hour operation to straighten his legs.

Noah Wall, from Carlisle in England, was diagnosed with spina bifida – a paralysing condition resulting from the baby’s spine failing to connect in the womb.

Doctors told Noah’s parents, Michelle and Rob, that he was unlikely to ever talk, walk or eat on his own, since he was to be born missing much of his brain due to a porencephalic cyst in his head.

His loving parents revealed how they were asked five times to consider aborting him. They refused.

Luckily for little Noah, his parents chose to give him life, and, nine years later, he has exceeded doctors’ expectations and grown into a “brilliant young man”. His brain has grown to eighty per cent, and his humour has blossomed too.

Relentlessly positive, Noah has said: “I want to run first, and then I want to walk. One day I want to play football and score goals, I think that would be exciting.

“I felt good after the surgery even if it was very sore after. I have a few bruises and I don’t like needles, but I feel good now.

“I have a blue plaster cast and blue is my favourite colour.”

Michelle, a mother of three, said that she was surprised by the positivity of her son: “This is the next step, but he’s just done it with a smile on his face as he always does. It’s amazing.

“In life, anything is possible and especially when it comes to Noah. He’s so determined and positive, it’s incredible.”

SPUC Comment

A SPUC spokesperson said: “Well done to Noah on being so brave and positive during his time in hospital.

“Despite all the challenges, his amazing ability to cope and thrive after such a challenging start to life is a lesson to us all.

“All of us here at SPUC wish him and his family the best of luck in the future, and we look forward to hearing about his first goal on the football pitch!”

“Miracle” baby with feet the size of a penny defies the odds and is now a happy primary school pupil

Woman repeatedly pressured to abort son after prenatal scan

Noah, born with just 2% of his brain, shows that anything is possible after surgery to allow him to walk and play football

26 May 2021

A nine-year-old boy born with just two percent of his brain is hoping to be able to walk and play football for the first time after undergoing a five-...

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