ALL Ryan Willis wanted for Christmas was a bike, and his wish came true – two weeks ahead of schedule – thanks to the Adver.

At just 12 years old, the bike fanatic, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of two and also suffers from epilepsy, has already spent more time in hospital being prodded and examined than most will in a lifetime.

Last year brought more devastating news to the young boy, his mum and sister Ellie-Mae as doctors discovered a blockage of his spinal cord and diagnosed cerebellum hernia, which could leave him paralysed.

So, when she spotted the launch of the Christmas Wish appeal 2014 in her daily newspaper, his mother Kerryann jumped at the chance to give her son the bike he so longed for.

“Ryan is a very brave, remarkable boy,” said the 31-year-old from Wichelstowe. “I just feel like Ryan deserved this Christmas to be a good one after everything.

“He has had severe type 1 diabetes since he was two years old. He depends on insulin every single day of his life and he has been in and out of hospital a lot. Not only that, but he also has epilepsy.

“Last year I split up with his dad and have been going through a tough divorce, which has hit him hard.

“Since the divorce we have discovered more medical problems. He has a blockage to his spinal cord and a hernia to his cerebellum in his brain which, if it needs to be operated on, could paralyse him.

“To top it all off, he has been diagnosed with ADHD. Even with all this, at the age of 12 he still has a smile on his face and keeps me going and staying strong.”

But Ryan was not the only one to receive a treat this Christmas. To make sure his little sister did not get left out, Swindon Cycles also presented her with a shiny new bicycle on Tuesday.

“When they told me they would give her a bike as well I just jumped up and down in my mum’s living room,” said Kerryann.

“Ellie goes with the flow. When Ryan is in hospital, my mum has her. Sometimes we are in John Radcliffe Hospital for days and weeks.

“It’s hard; I don’t get to spend much time with Ellie and she does get left out a little bit.”

Graham Terrett, manager of Swindon Cycle, in Stratton, who donated the bikes, said: “The Christmas Wish is a good cause and we like to support good local causes. Ryan has been through a lot and we wanted to help. His sister got left out a little bit so we felt giving her a bike as well was the right thing to do.”

  • Tomorrow’s Christmas Wish features a special theatre trip for a loving daughter.