VIDEO: Caring New Tupton teen receives prestigious award and meets Prince Harry

Luis Singh-Eyley, 16, who attends Tupton Hall Sixth Form, goes above and beyond to help his 10-year-old brother Theo, who has quadriplegia cerebral palsy, epilepsy, is fed via machine and is registered blind. He is now receiving palliative care.

In recognition of his kindness, Luis attended a special ceremony in London on Monday with his family where he received a WellChild Award for Most Caring Young Person and even got to meet Prince Harry.

His mum, Denise, 52, of Ash Grove, New Tupton, said: “We can tell him every day how proud we are but to get this award is amazing.

“Luis did not think he deserved the award because looking after Theo is something natural that he would do.

“Prince Harry asked Luis if Theo had changed his life and Luis said that he had changed his life for the better.”

When she was pregnant with Theo, Denise developed a complication called placenta praevia. This meant Theo had to be delivered by emergency caesarean at 29 weeks, weighing just 2lb 2oz.

Theo then suffered five strokes and Denise and husband Michael, 52, were told that he would not make it beyond the first week.

In total, Theo has had 37 operations for complex digestive problems and he can’t breathe or swallow unaided.

Just one of the many selfless acts by Luis included giving Theo’s bedroom a seaside makeover. The youngster used to enjoy trips out to Whitby in Yorkshire but because his health has sadly deteriorated this is no longer possible. Instead, Luis went about transforming his brother’s bedroom with sailing ships, seashells and even miniature beach huts so that Theo could experience the seaside every day.

Luis also helps out with Theo’s feeds, medicine and physiopherapy and the washing, cooking and hoovering.

There was also high praise for Luis, who has ambitions to go into nursing, from his sixth form tutor, Georgina Jones.

“Luis is a charming young man who is invariably cheerful, polite and helpful,” she said.

“He is a conscientious student who always strives to do his best in any given situation. He works hard academically and is a popular member of the sixth form with both his peers and staff.”

She added: “I have nothing but admiration for Luis. Most sixth form students find the A level workload alone hard to cope with. For him to be able to cope with demanding A levels and be such a help to his mum and dad, in addition to being a friend and supportive brother, demonstrates what a wonderful young man he is. Luis is exemplary.”

At the ceremony, Prince Harry said: “The spirit shown by the young people who have so deservedly won these WellChild Awards this evening humbles all of us. I hope that, like me, you have all been moved to keep supporting WellChild and help us reach more and more of the people that need it so badly.”

The WellChild Awards celebrate the courage of children coping with serious illnesses or complex conditions and honour the dedication of professionals who go the extra mile to help sick children and their families. The awards are run by WellChild, the national charity for seriously ill children.