Like the swallows, Ollie came in the spring and left in the autumn. Dancing, singing, swooping – there was something birdlike about his energy, joy and laughter – but also the fleeting, enigmatic quality of his life.

When he was two autism turned his life – and ours – into a baffling challenge. Then at four he almost died from leukaemia. But chemotherapy worked its magic and he made a full recovery. He was a tough survivor and nothing seemed to dim his spirit; so it was a huge shock, after several cancer-free years, when a fatal brain tumour was discovered. This time his body had had enough and he died very suddenly. He was twelve.

Ollie had extraordinary courage and endurance. Time after time he bounced back, obstinate, mischievous, playful, flirtatious, quixotic, funny. He generated – and continues to generate – huge amounts of laughter. And he was very beautiful. This is the story of the journey we made with Ollie. Unlike a mountaineer, pursuing extreme experiences out of choice, he had difficulty thrust upon him: he was forced to be brave. For me, too, the journey was far more compelling than any expedition.

‘A story of great courage and love a celebration of a bright, lively, brave little boy’
Daily Mail

‘Extraordinary and inspirational’
Good Books Guide

‘A deeply moving story … a celebration of a joyful life’
Observer

‘A testament not only to a brave boy, but to an exceptional marriage’
New Statesman

‘A gratifying reaffirmation of basic human kindness’
Independent

Hutchinson 2006 ISBN-10:0091800250 ISBN-13:978-0091800253 Paperback Arrow 2007 ISBN-10:009947879X ISBN-13:978-0099478799