Brave Kieran is in line for top award

Apr 9 2009 by Sandra Walls, Hamilton Advertiser

AN inspirational Stonehouse man is in line for a top award.

Brave Kieran Lyons was born deaf and has never been able to speak and now the 22-year-old has been diagnosed with a condition which could leave him totally blind.

His sterling efforts to overcome the condition have led to him being shortlisted from more than 400 entries for a special category in the prestigious Young Scot awards.

Kieran is in the last three and will find out tonight (Thursday), at a glittering awards ceremony, if he is the winner.

He attended the Earnock Deaf Unit and went on to Earnock High School.

At South Lanarkshire College, he learned how to be a plasterer and was three times named apprentice of the year.

Keiran never let his deafness hold him back but was dealt another blow when his peripheral vision deteriorated. Iin 2007, he was diagnosed with Ushers Syndrome, a condition that eventually causes total blindness.

His mum Christine (47) said Kieran had been forced to give up his plastering career after being registered blind. He now works for Glasgow-based Blindcraft.

Christine worked in Hamilton School for the Deaf but left in January to spend more time with Kieran.

Christine said Kieran had been “an inspiration” to her, his elder brother Jonathan (24), a trainee theatre nurse at Wishaw General, younger brother Luke (11) and stepdad Philip (41), who had supported him since he was a toddler.

“We are all proud of his achievements and his sheer will to get on with life,” added Christine.

“I nominated him for the Young Scot Sunday Mail Readers Category as I believe that he could give hope and encouragement to other young people who are perhaps going through something similar or even lift those who are depressed.”

Christine was encouraged to nominate Kieran for the award by Luke, who attends St Patrick’s Primary, Strathaven.

Luke had to write a piece about someone who has inspired him, as part of a class lesson.

Christine said that when Luke approached her for ideas, she was giving him names like Lewis Hamilton and other racing drivers as Luke is interested in racing but he said to his mum: “No, I’m going to write about Kieran.”

Christine said: “I was delighted that he felt this way about his big brother.

“It is so difficult to imagine being in a silent and dark world; last May we raised more than £1000 for Deaf Blind Scotland by completing the 6k run through Strathclyde Park, while wearing ear muffs and blindfolds. I can’t tell you how emotional that was.”

Kieran’s main method of communication is through British Sign Language. Using sign language was a way of life for all of the family.

Christine said she already feels that Kieran is a winner after he got into the last three of the the competition.

Kieran added: “I’m looking forward to the event tonight and meeting new people.

“I feel lucky to have support from family and friends and still be able to work.”

The family are excited about the ceremony which is being hosted at Glasgow City Halls by GMTVs Jenni Falconer.