Billy's courage recognised by the Share A Dream Foundation

A Shinrone child has been selected as one of the Share A Dream Foundation's Children of Courage for 2018.

Billy Goulding (6) was a healthy two year old old when in July 2014 he collapsed while out playing with his sister Rachel.

Five hours later he was in Temple St Hospital and his parents were told that Billy has Transverse Myelitis (TM) and is paralysed from the chin down.

Transverse Myelitis is a neurological disorder caused by inflammation across both sides of one level of the spinal cord. It destroys myelin the fatty insulation substance that covers nerve cell fibres. The damage causes nervous system scars in the spinal cord and the rest of the body to stop working.

Billy is known as the King of Temple St as he spent nearly a year there and was adored by all.

He had a tracheostomy tube in August 2014 because he wasn’t able to breathe on his own. After four years that was taken out this August. Billy has a nurse who sits beside his bed every night and a health care assistant every day to help with his day care. Billy and his parents have to travel to the UK twice a year for rehab.

Billy has his own Facebook page, Billy's Recovery Story, that has over 8000 followers.

His Mum Eileen, who nominated him for the award said: “I would only love Billy to receive an award as he truly deserves one.”

Billy and this year's seven other Children of Courage will be honoured at a special ball in the Radisson Blu Hotel in Limerick on November 24.