A CHRISTMAS wish came true for a brave St Peters youngster after he won a once in a lifetime trip to Lapland to meet Santa Claus.
Five-year-old Billy Tyler was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2012 and had to learn to stand, walk and talk again after going through an operation and intensive chemotherapy.
Organised by Heart Breakfast, Billy was nominated for the competition by a family friend and was amongst four other young winners from the West Midlands who visited the winter wonderland.
During the trip, the children drove snowmobiles, went on reindeer and husky rides, saw the northern lights and met Father Christmas.
Proud mum Debbie Reynolds said: “Billy is so deserving, he has come so far and I’m so proud of him. It all happened so fast, I’m still in shock.
“The trip was so magical. We helped tidy up the presents with the elves in Wendy Wood’s toy workshop and when we saw Santa, he was holding Billy’s letter which said that he wanted a blue Power Ranger. He then gave the toy to Billy, he loved it.
“The children had snowball fights, went sledging and played games. We all sat by the fire and drank Glogi, a warm festive drink. It was a once in a lifetime trip.”
Debbie first noticed something was wrong in 2012 after Billy kept getting sick.
After numerous visits to the doctor over a period of a few months, Billy’s illness was dismissed as a build up of mucus.
It wasn’t until he had a scan when a golf ball-sized tumour was found. He was then rushed to hospital and within 48 hours, he underwent an operation to remove it.
“After the operation, Billy went through intensive chemotherapy which caused him to be bedridden,” Debbie said.
“He had to learn to stand, walk and talk all over again, his physical development has come so far. “After everything, we didn’t think he would be the same little boy but the first time he spoke, he asked for chocolate buttons.
“When Billy was diagnosed, we were living in a Ronald McDonald House and my friend Claire had organised a fund-raising event where we ended up raising £25,000 for the charity.
“A couple of weeks ago she had contacted me saying that she had nominated Billy for the competition.
“We then got a call from Ed and Rachel at Heart Breakfast who wanted to know a bit more about Billy, it was then that they announced he had won. It really surprised us, we were so excited.”
“Although he looks okay, people don’t realise he still has to work ten times harder than any other little boy.
“It was so lovely that he was able to everything on the trip. We have had such great support from family and friends, he is such a brave little boy and has thoroughly deserved every second. He is a fighter,” she added
