 In an exclusive report published for 'The Mirror’s’ Life section, this front page photograph appeared of 2 year old Oliver Bilyard. A most remarkable child, Oliver had been born with his right foot facing backwards. Instead of opting for years of painful and not necessarily successful treatment to correct the birth defect, his parents took the agonising decision to have Oliver's right foot amputated to save him from years of torturous surgical agony. Fitted with an artificial leg just below the knee, the happy, smiling tot and I played football in his back garden in 1994. Oliver had no idea he might be different to the other kids playing in his garden, to them, and to him, football was all they cared about. long may it remain that way. |