A BRAVE Ulverston boy worked hard on his fitness to get ready for life changing surgery to help him walk - but he can no longer have the operation due to the diagnosis of a rare brain disorder.

Plucky Joe Morgan, nine, is nominated for The Mail's Christmas Stars. The happy lad has cerebral palsy he and his family had their hearts set on the youngster having Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy surgery in the United States to get him walking.

Joe had been working hard on his health and fitness in preparation for this surgery, but then the family received the blow that the Joe's MRI results showed has a rare brain disorder, Bilateral Schizencephaly.

This resulted in Joe no longer being a candidate for SDR surgery as his tight muscles are not caused by spasticity of his muscles, so SDR will not help.

There are alternative therapies and treatment which will help Joe, which his family continue to fund raise for to give Joe the best possible life.

His proud mum Lianne Morgan, said Joe has taken the news well and is "loving life". Mrs Morgan said: "Joe is amazing, he is happy every day even though he can not walk.

"He settled in well to Sandside School and has worked hard this year to improve his mobility, in preparation for an operation that he now can not have. Joe has taken the news really well and still carries on with loving life. "Joe looks after other people is always helping his best friend Jack at school. He always asks how everybody is . This year his life has changed so much, he's always busy doing activities and taking part in fundraising and he does it all without moaning. He enjoys everything he does, taking pride in everything. We are blessed to have him."

The Mail's Christmas Stars honours the bravest and kindest youngsters from across Furness, Millom and south Cumbria.

The Mail works with Heath's Toymaster, The Forum, the cast of Barrow panto Cinderella and Barrow and District Disability Association to celebrate courageous and selfless children in our communities and give them some magical Christmas surprises.

Our bravery and selflessness winners receive an early Christmas visit at home from Father Christmas, who delivers beautiful toys courtesy of Heath's Toymaster in Dalton Road, Barrow.

The Mail also hosts a special Christmas Stars party at The Forum, in Barrow, in the days before Christmas where deserving children meet the stars of this year's panto, Cinderella , and Father Christmas presents them with a gift.

Christmas Stars is open to children from Furness, Millom and south Cumbria who are aged up to 14 years. The closing date for nominations is Thursday December 14.

Nominations can be made using our online nomination form below, or by filling out the coupons published in The Mail newspaper. The printed coupons can be returned to Christmas Stars 2017, The Mail, Abbey Road, Barrow, Cumbria, LA14 5QS.

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