Cruel trolls attack poorly Hull boy Freddie Selby, 5
THE mother of a little boy with a rare, incurable heart condition says the pair have become the target of cruel jibes about his size.
Kirsty Selby was devastated when, four years ago, doctors gave her son Freddie just six months to live.
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Internet abuse: Kirsty Selby with her son Freddie.
The plight of Freddie, now five, has left heart specialists at Leeds General Infirmary baffled – but his size has not escaped the notice of cruel internet trolls.
One woman, commenting on a national newspaper’s website, even accused Kirsty of not caring about her son.
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Kirsty, 40, who lives with Freddie and daughter Amelia, 11, in west Hull, said: “I swear some people think I sit him down on the sofa and shove chocolate bars into his mouth all day, which just isn’t true.
“Freddie’s favourite foods are cucumber and oranges.”
Kirsty says she has taken Freddie, along with a diary of what he eats, to four dieticians, who all say he is consuming the right amount of calories for his age.
However, they recommend Freddie undertakes more daily exercise, which is proving tricky.
“Freddie enjoys bombing around the place and riding his bike, like any other child,” said Kirsty.
“But you have to remember he has a serious heart condition.
“Freddie will do exercise, but not to the same extent as other children.”
Kirsty says she often has to put up with cruel comments about her son’s weight.
She said: “Unfortunately, because there are so few cases, the doctors can not come out and say the weight gain is due to his heart condition.
“We did an article for a Sunday newspaper and some of the comments left on their website were very upsetting.
“Someone even said, ‘If this boy’s mother was that bothered, she’d feed him less food’.
“It is upsetting, but we have more important things to worry about than someone typing things on their computer.
“I have Freddie and that makes me happy.”
Freddie, who is currently off school with chicken pox, is in his second year at Stepney Primary in Beverley Road, Hull.
Freddie was born with pulmonary stenosis – or narrowing of the heart valves. His sister Amelia was born with the same condition and had a life-saving operation at the age of three.
However, doctors have said Freddie’s condition is inoperable.
Kirsty has been told her son could collapse and die without any warning.
Freddie recently visited Hull Royal Infirmary for a check-up.
Kirsty said: “The specialist we saw was very matter-of-fact and just told us that Freddie’s heart is continuing to cope, which is all we can hope for.”
Freddie said the majority of comments from readers of the Mail regarding Freddie are positive.
13 Comments
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by pietro_crespi
Wednesday, March 20 2013, 8:18PM
“PurpleParrot is a wise person.
Unfortunately going public is a double edge sword, in the old media days of print you were unlikely to hear the negative things said about news stories (they were shared as jokes), nowadays you just stick them online!
But on the other hand, we know a lot more about rare illnesses and their effects and the sufferers and their families can find others in the same boat.”
by PurpleParrot
Wednesday, March 20 2013, 7:36PM
“The trouble is that as soon as you open your life to the newspaper or online you are immediately putting yourself up for ridicule of one sort or another. It should not happen but it does. Trolls (or w***kers as Mark says), bullies, scum and cruel halfwits are everywhere just waiting for the tiniest chance to strike.
Best thing is to keep shtum and keep your life private. Good luck to Kirsty and Freddie but I would suggest you draw a line under this here and now.”
by amynmegs
Wednesday, March 20 2013, 7:26PM
“I have met Kirsty and Freddie a few times at hospital appointments my daughter also has pulmonary stenosis and she had first open heart surgery at one day old. she is nearly seven now. Freddie is gorgeous and such a lovely boy who has a lovely mum.... How can people be so cruel and say these things.
Do'nt justify yourself Kirsty your a brill mum and Freddie is a star!!! its each day that matters with your son let him eat what he wants i do my child time is precious do'nt listen to horrible waste of space...If leed's are happy then you be happy i know that's what i do ..my daughter has but a great deal of weight on these past months but she is here for me to hold and she is happy just like Freddie so thats all that matters ...take care ..xxx”
by amynmegs
Wednesday, March 20 2013, 7:25PM
“I have met Kirsty and Freddie a few times at hospital appointments my daughter also has pulmonary stenosis and she had first open heart surgery at one day old. she is nearly seven now. Freddie is gorgeous and such a lovely boy who has a lovely mum.... How can people be so cruel and say these things.
Dont justify yourself Kirsty your a brill mum and Freddie is a star!!! its each day that matters with your son let him eat what he wants i do my child time is precious dont listen to horrible waste of space...If leeds are happy then you be happy i know thats what i do ..my daughter has but a great deal of weight on these past months but she is here for me to hold and she is happy just like Freddie so thats all that matters ...take care ..xxx”
by amynmegs
Wednesday, March 20 2013, 7:25PM
“I have met Kirsty and Freddie a few times at hospital appointments my daughter also has pulmonary stenosis and she had first open heart surgery at one day old. she is nearly seven now. Freddie is gorgeous and such a lovely boy who has a lovely mum.... How can people be so cruel and say these things.
Dont justify yourself Kirsty your a brill mum and Freddie is a star!!! its each day that matters with your son let him eat what he wants i do my child time is precious dont listen to horrible waste of space...If leeds are happy then you be happy i know thats what i do ..my daughter has but a great deal of weight on these past months but she is here for me to hold and she is happy just like Freddie so thats all that matters ...take care ..xxx”
by gillpad
Wednesday, March 20 2013, 6:41PM
“Something I learned from another website is - don't feed the trolls. They only want to spark a reaction and it's best to just ignore them. Hard, I know. They are sad and sick and not worthy of notice.”
by glen1954
Wednesday, March 20 2013, 2:10PM
“Awww he looks a real cutie to me bless him .”
by susieb10
Wednesday, March 20 2013, 1:24PM
“People are mean simply because they see something and they don't understand so they resort to cheap insults. They don't realize this lovely little lad is I'll, they don't question, just resort to name calling. A lot need to take a step back and have a long look in a mirror or have a good look into their own life.”
by VaultHunter
Wednesday, March 20 2013, 12:38PM
“I am never surprised at the cruelty displayed by some people, especially when they can bask in the anonymity of the internet. Fortunately there is a caring side to British people as recently shown last Friday.
Best wishes to Kirsty and Freddie!”
by Mark_Hull_65
Wednesday, March 20 2013, 11:29AM
“First and foremost best wishes to the lad and his mum. May he live a long and happy life.
Second and lastmost this isn't called trolling it's called being a w***er. Any halfwit can post something offensive, trolling is the art of kicking off a massive bun-fight without actually saying anything at all.”