Boy, 7, has 28 surgeries for rare throat condition

Albie first started showing symptoms when he was two years old

A seven-year-old boy with a rare condition has had to undergo 28 surgeries to keep his air passage and vocal chords clear.

When he was three Albie from Shrewsbury was diagnosed with Reoccurring Respiratory Papilloma, which causes non-cancerous growths to form in his throat.

It is likely to be a lifelong condition and his parents said they faced a nine-month struggle to get him diagnosed.

The first awareness day for the condition is due to be held on 11 June and they hope it will lead to greater understanding of its impact.

Albie's mother, Kimberley, said: "Everyone who meets him absolutely adores him, he's funny, cheeky and can tell you anything and everything you want to know about animals and dinosaurs."

She said when he was two years old they started noticing his voice was croaky, he was off his food, he was pale and lethargic and his speech was delayed.

Their local GP told them it was likely to be a virus, but she said: "When you know there's something wrong with your child you know, any parent does."

After numerous further appointments, he was finally diagnosed in January 2020 and was referred to Birmingham Children's Hospital for treatment.

Albie wants to become a marine biologist when he grows up

At first, he needed surgery every four to six weeks to clear the growths from his throat, plus drugs to stop it spreading.

That has since been reduced to surgery every eight to 10 weeks.

His mother said he took "everything in his stride" and they tried to make it as "easy and normal" as possible for him, like visiting the dentist.

But she said: "This is something he's going to have for life, we don't know if he's ever going to go into remission."

Kimberley said: "It’s unknown territory for our family. I’d never heard of the condition before."

She thanked staff at the hospital, but has said greater awareness is needed, because it is not obvious when you meet him what Albie is going through.

"It's not like he goes around with a bandage around his throat," she said.

Albie is due his next surgery in May

Despite everything he has been through, Kimberley said: "He’s got such a positive outlook and we couldn’t be prouder."

She said he wants to be a marine biologist when he is older and his hero is David Attenborough.

“He has a lot of barriers, but he doesn’t allow it to stop anything. He knows he can do anything," she said.