BY MARK McKELVEY

The meteoric improvement in Billy Caldwell's mobility and learning development over the past couple of months has been truly remarkable.

During a visit home to Omagh over the past three weeks his family and friends have been astonished to see that after only a few months of intensive physiotherapy in Chicago he is now able to walk 36 steps with the support of his mother Charlotte holding his hands.

It is two weeks short of a year that the Billy's Ray of Hope campaign was launched in the UH, helping raise almost £200,000 to send the stricken two year old to America where he was diagnosed with the rare genetic disorder, Angelman Syndrome, just before Christmas by American consultants.

When Billy was first assessed in Chicago in September 2007 it was still unknown if he even had a chance of life – never mind walking or talking – with the words of Royal Victoria doctors still resonating in his families ears that his epilepsy condition was incurable and it would only be a matter of months before a seizure would kill him.

Exactly eight months later with his medication better regulated and undergoing twice daily intensive physiotherapy it is no longer a matter of, if he will ever walk, but when will he walk unaided.

"His progress is faster than anyone could have anticipated," said Charlotte. "When he started his treatment in February Billy was rolling his feet so the physiotherapist thought he may need a splint to straighten his feet, but after a week or two he started to put his feet flat.

"Billy took his first assisted step after only five weeks of therapy. I simply couldn't believe it and made the therapist do it again and again as I thought it must have been a fluke. I could never have expected to see the progress he has made in such a short period of time. His therapists are hopeful Billy will soon be walking unaided, something I could only imagine in my wildest dreams a year ago.

"This is something that would never have happened if I had cancelled my plans in America like Michael McGimpsey (Health Minister) asked as these treatments simply cannot have accessed in Northern Ireland and are much more expensive in England."

Charlotte explained just how Billy has developed his own cheeky little personality and is much more alert, interacting and communicating with her more.

She gave some examples, "Whenever he doesn't want to eat he hides his head in the corner of his chair looking back at me giggling.

"When I am sitting near him, he will move his face towards mine turning his cheek to my mouth so I will give him a kiss.

"He has started to show his personality and he has got very cute, trying to use his toys as a boost to stand on to try and climb out of his playpen and if he wants attention he will through his toys out so I will play with him."

Billy is also undergoing speech therapy to enable him to speak. Although this process will take much longer to show the same startling results however there has been noticeable improvements recently.

"I would always sing Billy to sleep, but it has only been in the past two weeks that he has started humming back at me."

Billy's personality is really starting to show, always laughing and giggling which is a distinguishing feature of Angelmans.

Charlotte says. "Kyle (Billy's brother) takes great pleasure in making him laugh giving him lots of hugs and tickles. It is really special for me to see them properly bonding as brothers as I think Billy now distinguishes him from other people and reacts differently when he sees Kyle compared to anyone else."

However with all this progress, reality is never too far away as Billy had an 11 minute seizure last Tuesday morning, highlighting that despite the dramatic improvements Billy has made, it can still not be taken for granted that he is out of danger of ever suffering a life-threatening seizure.

Billy will return to Chicago again on Friday having been showered with gifts by loving friends and family during this short homecoming. Thankfully now having sorted out an American visa while at home, Billy will be able to travel as often as necessary across the Atlantic in the coming years.

Charlotte said, "It was like Christmas all over again this trip home. My family couldn't believe the difference in Billy since January. Even getting picked up at the airport my brother was overwhelmed by how alert and assertive he now is.

"They have always realised that he was a special little boy and always supported my decision to fight to take Billy to America and I have to thank them for stepping up to the plate. I am honoured Billy chose me to be his mum."