When Samuel Boakes was born he was not given much hope of making it beyond the age of three but against all odds he is now about to turn 21.

To celebrate, mum Ruth Dalton wants to do everything she can to make the milestone one to remember and is asking people to send him a birthday card.

Samuel suffers from the extremely rare Bainbridge-Ropers Syndrome which means he is non-verbal and spends 80% of his time in a wheel chair.

The 53-year-old said: "One thing he always struggled with was opening presents and cards — he didn't really know what was happening. But in the past few years he has realised he can open them and there will be something inside.

"He likes anything bright and colourful and you can get some great cards. He also loves books and to him I think cards are like little books.

"He has not got much he can do but that sort of thing he really loves."

For the first 17 years of his life Samuel's condition went undiagnosed.

"I went to bed every night worrying he might not wake up in the morning," Ruth says.

She describes the moment she finally received the news as a shock but explains it has made life easier as doctors have told her the only recorded fatalities linked to the condition are due to underlying problems, such as heart issues.

During the week Samuel boards at a specialist college in Surrey and will be heading back there on Sunday, July 7 for a birthday party.

But before then Ruth plans to hold her own celebration for him at their home in Summerson Close, Rochester.

She explained: "I've been in touch with family and friends from all over the world and they'll be sending him cards. One parent at his college has family in Australia and they are sending one."

Others are being sent from places such as the Cayman Islands, Canada, America and Bulgaria.

Bainbridge-Ropers is exceptionally rare and has only been recorded in 200 people worldwide but through the wonders of the interne Ruth has been able to get in touch with other families affected by the condition who will also be sending their best wishes.

While Samuel cannot read one of his favourite things is listening to stories and Ruth plans to read each card to him, some of which will be written in different languages to mix things up a bit.

If you would like to send Samuel a card post it to Medway Messenger, Medway House, Sir Thomas Longley Rd, Rochester ME2 4DU

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