A BRAVE boy diagnosed with diabetes after taking seriously ill is going the extra mile to help other people with the condition.

Courageous Conor McGhee from Gourock has always been a happy and healthy young boy who loves swimming and football.

But last year, the six-year-old suddenly became very unwell, triggering two emergency dashes to hospital.

His mum was left frantic as doctors worked to find out exactly what was wrong.

Thanks to specialist treatment, Conor is now back on track and helping to raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) charity.

The Gourock Primary pupil has embarked on a fundraising challenge with his grandad John McCready to walk 10,000 steps a day for 40 days.

He said: “My fitbit lets me know how many steps I am doing and mummy will post daily updates on how I am doing.

“I know how much my Pops loves walking, so I asked mummy to sign him up for it too.”

Conor says he feels lucky to have all his ‘gadgets’ to help manage his diabetes and be just like all his friends.

His mum Donna McCready, 30, of St John’s Road, says she’s so proud of her son for the way he has coped with his health problems.

She said: “It has been a whirlwind of emotions since Conor was diagnosed but he has been absolutely fantastic from the start.

“After two days in hospital, he was doing his own bloods, he’s just not fazed.

“He’s just fantastic and has never complained once.
“He just gets on with it.”

It was in February last year when Conor became ill and had to be rushed to hospital.

Donna said: “It was scary.

“He’d stayed with my mum and dad the night before and my mum said to me that something wasn’t right.

“I took him to the doctors that morning and was told to take him to the Royal Alexandra right away.

“When we were at the hospital they said they were pretty sure he had Type 1 Diabetes, but then they said they got it wrong.

“They sent us home with a blood glucose monitor to take readings from Conor then the plan was that he would be seen as an outpatient.

“But that same night his blood glucose level got higher and higher.

“Conor’s was over 30 and the normal level is between 3.9 and 6.0.

“At that point there is a risk of him going into a coma.”

Conor was rushed back into hospital where he received emergency treatment and doctors confirmed he had Type 1 Diabetes.

Following his diagnosis, Conor was initially treated with insulin injections before he was fitted with an insulin pump.

Donna added: “The hospital were great with him — they gave him a book and teddy bear to practice injections. But he was put on the insulin pump as every single time he was putting something in his mouth he needed an injection.”

Conor is also going to be fitted with a continuous monitor – a less invasive technique for measuring glucose.

Donna added: “It will monitor Conor’s levels and an alarm will go off if they’re too high or too low.

“This will give a peace of mind because at the moment I’m up and down at night making sure he’s okay.”

Conor’s dad Mark McGhee and his grandparents John and Elaine McCready have been a huge support to him.

Donna is also keen to thank her work colleagues at Crown House for their help, as well as Conor’s school – especially his teacher Kirsty McCready, who is his aunt.

She said: “Conor’s classmates call him ‘Gadget’ McGhee because he’s got lots of them to help him with his diabetes.

“The school have been great.”

Conor’s bravery has also been recognised by a diabetes charity who have appointed him as one of their ambassadors.

Donna added: “When Conor was diagnosed there were stories about older and younger children with Type 1 but I couldn’t find a story to relate to.

“I want Conor’s story to help other parents who are in a similar position.”

Conor has already raised over £1,000 for his charity challenge but he hopes to reach his target of £1,500.

To donate visit https://the40daystepchallenge.everydayhero.com/uk/donna-6