A WREXHAM boy who was told he would not be able to walk until he is older is defying the odds - through the power of all things football.
If you are a follower of all things Wrexham AFC on Twitter, then you may have recently come across Carter Parry's journey.
Carter, who is from Wrexham, was born two months early and at 18 months old he was diagnosed with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy.
That condition causes damage to the white matter of the brain and is, according to mum Alison Murphy, as a result of him being born prematurely.
But all that has not stopped Carter, now four years old, from enjoying some great times in life - and 2022 has certainly been a year to remember for him.
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His love for Wrexham AFC has seen him strike up a friendship with star striker Paul Mullin, who regularly chats with the family and even invited Carter to be a mascot for a match at the Racecourse.
Carter's further love for the beautiful game has even seen him go on to be able to play in his first pair of football boots, which he received earlier this week.
He is now up and about three years earlier than doctors initially predicted and able to enjoy a kickabout.
Mum Alison, 26, said: "He got the boots on Wednesday this week (December 21), they are Nike phantom GT’s.
PIC: Carter Parry in his new football boots!
"We have yet to test them outside as the weather we have been having is too cold for his muscles so we are hoping as it warms up over the Christmas period we will be able to get out with them.
"Watching him play football at any time brings me a lot of happiness, because of how happy it makes him."
In between the hospital appointments, days out watching Wrexham AFC have become an escape for the whole family, and Carter in particular, who enjoys watching the Reds stars play.
Carter enjoys clapping for the players and eating chips with his best friend Jack on a matchday at the Racecourse.
Talking about the challenges of 2022 and what the new year can bring for the family, Alison added: "2022 has had its ups and downs, mainly pain in his legs and the curiosity of his condition but we have had many up’s and the best one being given the go ahead for Carter to have a different type of treatment going into 2023.
"In 2023, we are just looking forward to trying this new treatment, getting on the football pitch and hopefully see a Wrexham promotion."
PIC: Alison Murphy with her son Carter.
Commenting on the friendship between Carter and Mullin, Alison said: "I take my hat off to Paul, the way he has been with Carter since he started watching Wrexham has been something every parent could ever wish for.
"I put a TikTok video up on twitter and he reached out to me to ask if Carter would like to be his mascot and it has gone from there really. The highlight of that really is him being mascot for him, he loved it and still to this day tell’s everyone how he went on the pitch with Mullin.
"The quiet zone at the football club really has given Carter the best focus, because if Kerry (the lady in charge of the quiet zone) didn’t introduce us then Carter would not be able to attend matches.
"This is because some days he needs his wheelchair and other days he’s very overwhelmed but at the quiet zone he is at such ease, and that is where the football obsession started."
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