A BRAVE boy battling a rare wasting condition has been described as a hero by his proud mum.

James Lambert, aged 11, of Canterbury Road, Ronkswood, Worcester, has Parry- Romsberg Syndrome, which causes the tissues of the face to shrink and degenerate on one side.

James, who attends Nunnery Wood Primary School, was diagnosed when he was 10 and the syndrome has already affected his mouth and caused one of his eyes to droop.

James is being treated at the Diana Princess of Wales Children’s Hospital in Birmingham and will need to have dental work and his jaw reconstructed when he is older.

His mum Rachel Lambert, 36, who had never heard of the condition before her son was diagnosed, has nominated James to be one of the 300 unsung heroes chosen to attend an audience with the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at Worcester Cathedral during her visit as part of the Diamond Jubilee tour on Wednesday, July 11.

She said: “He takes it in his stride. He knows it’s something he has to get through.

“If it was me, I would be hiding under the duvet but he just took it all on the chin.

“I said I would give up my arms and legs to stop him having this. He said, ‘You can’t do that mum – you’ll bleed to death’.

“James has had blood tests, X-rays, MRI scans and lots of facial exams. He has been my hero. He never says, ‘Why me?’ He just accepts it and moves on.”

Ms Lambert said James was not fazed by his hospital experiences, even when nine consultants were standing around him before he was diagnosed.

He has also been back to the hospital several times since September last year.

James also had glue ear from birth and spent his toddler years hearing very little which, because of late diagnosis, left him with delayed speech, language and learning.

James went to a special pre-school but soon caught up and started at a mainstream primary school with a statement of educational needs. When he was six, he had an operation to fit grommets in both ears.

His mum said: “James is an amazing boy who doesn’t moan or complain. He gets on with life, he loves to learn and has a passion for history and architecture.

“His teachers always describe him as polite, kind and helpful.”

James said: “I haven’t really complained because I just like to get on with things.”

Hundreds of people have been writing to your Worcester News to nominate their unsung heroes.

Those chosen will make up a special audience in the cathedral when the Queen visits Worcester next month.