10/03/2010

Davey and I (Helen) are the very proud parents of our special son, Matthew, who is now 10 and a very important half.

 

Matthew came into our world in September 1999. He was born with a very rare skull deformity called ‘Lambdoid Cranio Synostosis’. Try saying that! it’s taken us years!

 

Thankfully, the wonderful staff and neuro surgeons in Newcastle were able to save his life by performing two major operations when he was 2 and 4 years old. How eternally grateful we are.

It was a possibility Matthew would be left with a form of learning difficulty. However, this was a very small price to pay as if the surgery was not performed, he would have been profoundly brain damaged.

 

Matthew’s skull looks amazing. He’s a precious little boy and has the ability to make a lovely impression on whoever he meets. This we are so very proud of.

 

He has defied all medical opinions by:
1. Learning to ride a bike
2. Swim
3. Play golf
4. Run and walk and, at time, be a little monkey!

 

He attends a special school 3 days a week and a mainstream two days (how luck is he to go to two schools?) The staff and pupils in both schools are utterly amazing. The love, help, support, guidance and friendship are absolutely amazing and heart-warming.

 

Matthew has severe and complex learning difficulties and communication problems. We use ‘Makaton’ (a form of sign language) to communicate with him. He also has autistic traits (some bizarre, but hey that’s another story!)

 

Matthew’s love of the wonderful game of snooker has been greatly encouraged by dad (Davey) who has a love for it too. This is a lovely time that they share together, week in, week out, every Sunday at the Portland Snooker Club, where Matthew enjoys a drink of orange and ‘pink’ crisps i.e. prawn cocktail.

 

As Matthew cannot explain verbally what he likes, we realised snooker became a dedication to him. The game has educated him beyond amazement. He has:-
1. Learnt his colours form the balls
2. Simple addition by value of the balls
3. Learnt his shapes i.e. circle, triangle
4. Turn taking
5. Improved his fine and gross motor skills (medical terminology)

 

Once Matthew’s enjoyment of the game became more evident, we bought him a two foot pool/snooker table when he was four. He eventually wore it out after six years of continuous playing! He therefore entered the world of snooker in a big way and took him to the world renowned Crucible Theatre in Sheffield for the World Championships in 2007, 2008 and 2009. Wow! Matthew (and dad of course) were in awe and sat glued watching the professionals play. Neither of them moved. If you don’t mind me saying I had a little snooze.

 

The breakthrough for us came when I watched the final (I had no choice!) in 2008. There my mind was caught by a gentleman called Chris Lovell. I only had to hear the word special needs and my full attention was gripped. How impressed was I that day to hear Chris’s interview. He was so encouraging to give children with disadvantaged backgrounds and special needs to be given the opportunity to learn about snooker through the Paul Hunter Foundation that was set up in memory of the Masters Champion, Paul Hunter, who sadly passed away in 2006.

 

At the end of Chris’s interview, I was so impressed and interested I wrote a letter to Chris in June 2008. I explained about Matthew and how could we help support such a worthy cause? Chris kindly rang me on return of my letter and was so positive, friendly and professional and very encouraging for both the Paul Hunter Foundation and for Matthew. This was fantastic.

 

We are so fortunate and grateful to Chris and his staff at the North Lancs Training Group who have given ourselves, but in particular a special little boy, the opportunity to:
1. Meet Chris in June 2008 and then
2. To meet a school boy’s dream by meeting Mr Steve Davis in November 2009 (the hero bit also refers to Davey as Steve Davis was his hero).

Meeting Steve Davis, Chris and his staff was a truly memorable day that we all will treasure. It was very special to us all.

 

Matthew was given the amazing and once in a lifetime experience or opportunity to play snooker with Steve Davis! I mean, how amazing is that! Talk about impressing friends at the two fantastic schools he attends. Both his head teachers have kindly made it possible for Matthew to take into school his:
1. Signed photograph of Steve Davis
2. A lovely photograph with Steve Davis
3. A lovely photograph of him with Chris Lovell
4. A signed cue case
5. A signed cue
6. DVDs to do a presentation in the main assemblies

 

Well, the head teachers talked on Matthew’s behalf, as Matthew is not a boy of many words, he likes to stand and smile.

 

We as a family go to Blackpool as and when we can. We are very much welcomed with warmth and friendliness by the staff at the Q Club, but in particular our thanks go to Mandy and Steve and their two sons who kindly take Matthew under their wing.

 

Matthew is gradually learning the game of snooker, but seems to have no problem in potting balls from some bizarre angles and often with great ease. He has a wonderful fascination of writing every snooker player, most nights from 1962.

 

As well as watching DVDs that Chris kindly gave him, which thankfully replace some of Davey’s (dad) videos that Matthew enjoys watching despite the fact that some of them are even in black and white.

At the moment Steve Davis ‘Golden Nuggets’ is a firm favourite.

 

For his tenth birthday, Matthew got a new 4 foot snooker table. Now we never see him, but rest assured we can hear him, as he claps to himself when he pots a ball. Dedication is the word I would use for Matthew. He practices 5 hours a night, every night.

 

So, now I have reached the end of this short novel about Matthew’s happy world. I do hope you have enjoyed it as much as we (Davey and I) enjoy and treasure being the very proud parents of one very special little boy.

 

MATTHEW VEITCH