A Scots man with quadriplegic cerebral palsy who was given little hope of living a 'normal' life has defied all odds to pursue his dream degree in London.
Alexander Van Der Byl endured a traumatic birth which saw him having to be resuscitated at just minutes old, leaving him with the condition as well as a host of other health issues.
The aspiring student - who lives in Leith, Edinburgh - underwent a series of intensive and life-changing therapies since he was a tot but still contends with muscle fatigue, pain and the inability to walk at certain times in his adult life.
Despite this, the now 24-year-old has graduated with a first class degree in photography from Edinburgh College of Art - and has his sights set on a move to London to continue his studies in the creative field.
Alex told the Record: "Doctors thought I would spend my life in a wheelchair. I can do most things but I have to watch my energy levels. I can't walk sometimes and rely on taxis to get about.
"I didn't really attend nursery or primary school because I was always in and out of hospital for check-ups. There were a lot of interruptions and I definitely struggled in high school.
"There weren't many kids I could relate to as there weren't many in my position. Nobody else needed help like I did. I'm still going through speech and language therapy and my physical movement needs a bit of work, too."
At birth, doctors said Alex wouldn't be able to do 'anything' and gave him a poor prognosis due to having spasticity in all his limbs.
His speech and mobility were affected by the cerebral palsy, meaning he struggled to communicate and spent his first few years of primary school in a pram, and he suffered with epilepsy until the age of five.
At 16, Alex moved from a mainstream school to a special needs school where film classes fuelled his love of art. In fifth year, he left to do a HNC at Edinburgh College, which led him to achieve his BA in fine art.
Alex has now been accepted to do a Masters degree at the Royal College of Art in London. Heartbreakingly, his mum, Julie, can no longer work as she has secondary breast cancer and is unable to foot the £13,000 bill.
Alex continued: "A lot of the time throughout my life, I would have to repeat myself because of my speech issues but through art, I've found a way to express myself.
"Education is much more than a qualification or a certificate to me. I view it as, if I can do this, I am capable of so much more than what people originally thought. Even going to mainstream school was a big deal for me.
"It's sad that when I was born, my mum was in hospital all the time looking after me and we only had around three years of a break from it until she got cancer. She can't move with me as she needs to be in Edinburgh for treatment."
Julie, 61, who has beaten the odds herself after being given just two years to live following her diagnosis in 2011, added: "I remember the first time Alex was ever able to walk, and now he's doing this. He amazes me.
"Being the mother of a child with cerebral palsy, if I'd have seen a story like Alex's when he was first born, it would've given me hope. He's come such a long walk from where we thought his trajectory would take him/
"I've done all his therapies with him so it's hard for me to let him go, but I know it's the right thing to do. He's such a talented artist and photographer."
A GoFundMe has now been launched to help Alex's family with the university fees, which has already raised over an incredible £6,000. If you would like to donate, click here.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
