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Boy, 6, Faces Wheelchair Life After Rare Hip Condition
2 Nov
Summary
- A six-year-old boy diagnosed with Perthes' disease now uses a wheelchair.
- The rare hip condition disrupts blood supply to the thigh bone.
- Family is fundraising for electric wheelchair and future treatments.
A six-year-old boy from Colchester, Essex, has seen his life dramatically change following a diagnosis of Perthes' disease in August 2026. Initially dismissed as growing pains, his intermittent limping escalated to significant leg pain within months.
This rare condition, affecting one in 9,000 children, disrupts the blood supply to the top of the thigh bone, causing it to soften and change shape. Billy was first advised to use crutches, but quickly progressed to needing a wheelchair full-time.
The Mason family is now fundraising for an electric wheelchair and ongoing treatment, including physiotherapy and hydrotherapy. While doctors hope Billy's bone will regrow naturally over the next two to three years, there are no guarantees, and future surgery may be required.
The condition has significantly impacted Billy's life, removing him from activities like football. It has also affected his siblings, Annie, nine, and Louie, five, limiting family activities. His parents are focusing their energy on his care and treatment.
