BORN TO BE DIFFERENT is back on.

[TheOriginalFAB]

This Thursday at 9pm on channel four.

Neverbored - I hope you stick around on Mumsnet.

There is a Special Needs - Children section on here, if you follow THIS link, it will take you there. My mum also has MS, so I know just how hard it is for you to cope with your own illness, alongside William's needs.

I'm off to look at that clip on YouTube now. Take care xx

Williams mum about to be on R4 NOW!!!!
Quick they are trying to get her on the phone.

(sorry Williams mum hope thats ok but I know everyone is interested)

Let's just talk about the programme and the children and families within it.

Welcome to MN, NeverBored - you are a fantastic family and both your children are lovely.

I was delighted to see Hamish doing so brilliantly at his ski-ing - how impressive was that? Last series and the one before that, Hamish and his parents were exploring the possibility of bone-lengthening, a procedure DS had in between the 2 programmes. DS's procedure was not about making him taller but about maintaining mobility and preventing scoliosis. I'm really heartened to see Hamish thriving as he IS.

Peachy - your ethics work sounds v interesting. It has been interesting to watch the little girls who have had bladder and muscular-skeletal surgeries take ownership of their part in the decision making. It really is important for children to be empowered to decide about treatment, and publicity.

Will anyone else be watching this tonight?

Yep, watching it now. Nathan is doing so well!

zoe rocks

She does. I love her attitude to life.

I've always had a soft spot for Nathan,though love all of the kids. It is lovely to see him again.He seems so confident and mature.

Poor William,and his poor parents. It's difficult enough to watch him going into theatre as a viewer.I can't imagine how painful it must be for his parents.

i am in awe of these families. utterly humbled.

Zoe is very mature for 10 isnt she!

Hi everyone thanks for watching Born to be different and all the lovely comments.
I am the very proud mummy of Zoe. We went into this thinking it would be a one off programme never dreaming that we would meet the other families, let alone still be filmimg eleven years on.
I count myself privaliged to have met the most wonderful parents and children from this series and see them as part of our family.
I hope you carry on enjoying the series.
Thank you again x

its a real privilege to watch

zoe and em are just great me and dd were almost in tears and how fab to see shelbie doing so well.
amazing programme.

Hi zoe's mum. I was highly impressed with Zoe as was everyone I expect. My daughter has to make some decisions about surgery soon - she and I have the same condition but my mum made the decisions for me about surgery, whcih ended up with me having a lot of operations and pain, so we're letting her decide . I hope she's as mature and considered as your lovely little girl. You must be very proud. neverbored, my heart went out to you both - again, it took me back to when i was little and my mum had to watch me go into surgery in a state. You are amazing!

Hi Zoeellie, welcoome to MN.

It is wonderful to see a child be so empowered to make such important decisions - and presumably crucial to the success of the aftercare - committment to physio regimes, etc.

We had to make a final decision when DS was 6 whether to start on a series of challenging orthopaedic procedures, or have DS fitted with a prosthetic leg. In the end, DS made the decision to start surgery himself, and has never wavered in that decision.

Zoe is BRILLIANT in the way she talks about her arms being part of her, and she doesn't want to lose that, just have more function - her self esteem and awareness and intelligence are fantastic - well done you and her.

Wasn't she magnificent in the gymnastic display?

I've been watching this, its lovely to see these children as they grow up. I'm such a sap I end up bawling every show.

I'm so happy for Emily that her op worked for her, and that she's being more independent.

I adore Zoe, what a lovely attitude she has. The gymnastic display was so moving, such a proud mummy moment for her mum.

I see that William's mum has been on the board - your family is amazing and its lovely to see Williams anger episodes are less frequent, it must be so hard for you.

I feel so sad for Shelbie's mum, she's got such a lot on her plate and the preview to next week looks really sad

I love Nathan too, he's a lovely boy (and I think his dad's rather a dish too)

What I've noticed about all of the children, including Hamish is that they are all really confident despite their difficulties.

I really want to thank all the families for continuing to film this show - its lovely how all these children are growing up and its a privilage for us to be allowed to see it.

Hello, haven't read the whole thread, but just wanted to add what a wonderful insightful programme this is. I remember it started before I had my own children and now as a mum it means so much more to me.

I have a teeny soft spot for Shelbie and her mum, one of my little boys was stillborn and his twin brother had a very grim prognosis before birth. As it turned out all was well, but I often wonder what might have been.

I feel nothing but admiration for these lovely families and real affection for their wonderful children.

I also have been watching this for years and love seeing the children growing up although it is very sad at times. The parents are amazing, William's parents especially with all the challenges they have faced you can see how dedicated and loving they are. The pictures were so lovely of him and his sister.
The programme also is significant for me as I had a stillborn DD with a very simelar condition (but lethal version) to one of the children featured. I also think it is great to show the joys and hardships.

Zoeellie. your daughter is just so lovey, she is very mature for her age, I was in tears when she was going down for her operation, she is so brave.

I know you's have the odd tears on TV, but for the majority of the time you make it look like you's cope really well. Do you have any tips?
I struggle loads with my youngest ds, both dh and I have been on the bottom for the last few weeks. I for one desperatly need to pick myself up.

sorry in my desperation I forgot to say you's all have fantastic kids and you are all doing great jobs x

I have watched this from the very start, and love to see how the children are doing and hold my breath everytime wondering if your all ok, or if something has happened in between shows that is too sad to mention.

What bugs me about peoples comments is they will happily watch 20 twats in a house playing up for the camera, a bunch of "famous" people doign something stupid and of no benieft to anyone but dare to say something bad about these wonderful families and their children.

SN makes many people feel uncomfertable because they feel they have to act in a certain way, they dont, these children and their families are just wanting to be part of this world like everyone else. Maybe watching the show might help someone truely understand what happens in these families, what things they might worry about but also show the wonderful side of these beutiful children.

I loved last nights programme, especially Zoe talking about her operations with wise words, and William having his photo shoot.
As a mum of 2 girls with SN, people that post stupid crap they know nothing about makes me reliase how many still live in the dark ages.

Devientenigma i have cried and shouted and sometimes hit a lot of things. We all handle things differently, don't best yourself up for feeling low at times your allowed!!! I still get very angry around appointment times and op times, I look at Zoe and think why?? Why her she has done nothing to deserve what she gies through but then she smiles or does something so amazing and it wipes all my anger away. We have had many lows and I am sure there will be more to come but the love for your child will carry you through even if it does not feel like it at the moment.
I send you lots of love and a big shoulder to cry on, stay strong You can do it x

What a brilliant series. I think it is very sensitively made too.
Each and every family seems wonderful. Zoe is just completely adorable, so very mature. Zoeellie you must be bursting with pride.
And neverbored, it's so great to read your input on here. You have such a handsome son and it's clear you all love one another a lot. What fabulous parents you seem to be, for lots of reasons.
I'm so glad there has been an update. I think of all the children from time to time and hope life is going well.

Thanks zoeellie for the reply. I did ask mumsnet to remove my posts. I didn't want to turn a positive thread so negative. The reply eas don't worry, someone has post after you now. Cheers Lisa.
My ds is also 10yo and I have watched from the beginning. He's so much hard work and I think it's the fact of him not being in school and no break from him that's not helping.
Anyway without me dragging this down further you all do a great job. Zoe is fantastic and so mature, both your girls are lovely. Neverbored your son is so like mine, hopefully he will calm down soon. The photo shoot looked fab.
zoeellie thanks for the shoulder and encouraging words, take care x