A Welsh schoolboy who nearly died at birth has made a rousing video for the Wales squad ahead of the World Cup. Louis Horton can’t play contact sport himself because he was born with a hole in his diaphragm affecting his lungs, but he’s more than made up for it with a thundering speech to get behind team Wales.
The 12 year-old wrote and performed his own rallying cry, inspired by Michael Sheen's spine tingling speech, as part of English lessons at Risca Community Comprehensive. And it won praise this morning from the master himself after Louis’ teacher posted it on Twitter.
“I would gladly be a thundering gigantic daffodil next to you Louis! Brilliant, passionate stuff,” Sheen tweeted back after year seven English teacher Ellie Johnston shared her pupil's speech on social media.
When Miss Johnston asked her year seven pupils to make their own a motivational speech inspired by Sheen’s call to arms for the Wales squad, Louis proved he was more than up to the task. The schoolboy’s powerful rendition roused the whole class to cheers and she thinks it has the power to go even further now.
“I had a whole class of passionate pupils doing speeches but Louis was particularly inspiring and you can hear the cheers as he made it," she said, "It really does give Michael Sheen a run for his money.”
Louis admits to being “ a bit overwhelmed” at reaction to his speech. The schoolboy will be watching the World Cup with his mum and dad, but admitted he’s not usually a huge sports fan, he’s more into drama and science.
“I am kind of overwhelmed. I don’t know where the speech came from really, I just wanted to do it like that," he said.
“I’m not really a big sports fan but I do support my country and will watch the World Cup with my mum and dad.”
The schoolboy’s proud parents Rhiannon Lewis and John Horton said they were amazed when they saw the video of his speech. The family from Risca will be on holiday in Egypt for Wales’ first game in the World Cup and have planned an evening to watch it there with Louis and four year old brother Jacob.
“When I saw the speech it gave me goose bumps,” said senior carer Rhiannon, “we are so proud and Louis is very excited.
“He can’t do contact sport because he had abdominal hernias, which was something he was born with. He’s lucky to be alive and I call him my miracle.
“He was in a special care baby unit for weeks and had his first operation aged 11 days after being born with a diaphragmatic hernia. It’s all cured now but surgeons said it was 30-70% that he would make it and told us not to expect him to be able to do contact sport.”
The condition caused one of Louis’ lungs to be smaller than the other as well as muscle wall weakness.
None of this has held Louis back, said his mum: “He's always been a bright spark and very passionate and outspoken about things he likes.
“Louis puts his heart and soul into everything.”
Dad John, an assistant factory manager, is looking forward to watching the World Cup with the family. He hopes Louis will make his speech a few more times as they watch it together.
“I am really proud of Louis. This will be his first World Cup and it’s nice to see him getting involved, it’s going to be special for both of us."
Risca Community Comprehensive headteacher John Kendall said he was proud of all his pupils and Louis' speech " really puts us all in the right mood for the World Cup."
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