The Boy Who Can't Smile

Schoolboy’s deadpan joke delivery hides rare medical condition that stops him smiling


 

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 5:10 PM on 28th April 2011

But his quick wit and deadpan delivery hide a tragic secret – he is unable to smile because of a rare medical condition that only affects 200 people in the UK.

The happy and cheerful nine-year-old has battled a rare form of facial paralysis since birth, called Moebius Syndrome,  which means he cannot blink, smile or frown.

But despite the congenital handicap – Moebius Syndrome – the youngster from Bolton-upon-Dearne, near Doncaster, is a source of inspiration to everyone he meets.

His mother Kelly, 34, said: ‘He’s quite a funny and cheeky lad and he loves telling jokes. He and his younger brother Maxwell, aged six, make a great double act.

‘Despite serious problems Harvey has blossomed into that lovely intelligent nine year old lad.

‘He is so happy with life and that is what really matters. He has a wicked sense of humour and he is a right one for the ladies.

‘He has a good group of friends and gets on well with everybody. A lot of people , when they first meet him, can’t quite catch what he says. But his mates have known him since childhood so that is never a problem with them.’

She added: ‘Harvey has taught me so much about life – and the need to look beyond the face value of everything.’

Doctors realised the youngster had serious medical problems soon after his birth.

His mother said: ‘As soon as Harvey was born in Barnsley Hospital they realised something was wrong and took him to a special care unit.

‘It was obvious he had an inability to suck and I was devastated. The paediatric consultant told us he had this rare condition. Babies with the condition have problems communicating , walking and vision.

‘The future looked bleak for Harvey – they made out a case for what he wouldn’t or couldn’t be able to do, as opposed to what he could do. But they were wrong.

‘It was tough for the first year – he had to be fed every three hours, day and night.

‘It could take an hour to get an ounce of milk into him. He was tube-fed for the first week – he needed to feed on demand.

‘But as time went on Harvey kind of taught himself to get milk from a bottle. The higher the calorie milk built him up.

‘He went from strength to strength – he is a fantastic kid. He still has appointments with specialists to look at his eyes and about his feeding.

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