A TEENAGER who suffered a life-threatening brain haemorrhage has taught himself to walk, speak and write again.

Luke Freestone, of Spondon, was nine years old when he collapsed and was diagnosed with an arteriovenous malformation – a tangle of weakened blood vessels in his brain.

He has had hours of surgery and months of recuperation but the 13-year-old has stayed cheerful and positive, attending school and even playing for a football team run by Derby County in the Community.

Now Luke has been nominated for a Community Champion award by one of his teachers.

His mum, Sonia, said she would never forget the day their lives changed.

The 39-year-old said: "My mother had been diagnosed with terminal cancer just 12 days and we were getting ready to visit her in hospital when Luke came into the kitchen.

"He was really distressed and couldn't talk or move properly.

"We put him in the recovery position, then he was sick and went deathly pale. It was terrifying because we just didn't know what was happening."

Luke was rushed to the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary where doctors battled to save his life.

Scans revealed the haemorrhage was deep in his brain and he was transferred to a specialist unit at the Queen's Medical Centre, in Nottingham, for an emergency six-hour operation.

The haemorrhage left him unable to use the right side of his body and he has had to learn to walk, eat, write and talk again.

With help from teachers at Scargill Primary School, in West Hallam, where Luke was a pupil at the time, Sonia was able to get Luke a place at St Benedict Catholic School and Performing Arts College, in Duffield Road, Derby.

Staff at the school have been able to give Luke the specialist support he needs and he is now flourishing.

Teacher Maggie Gorman, who nominated Luke for the Community Champion award, said: "He always tries hard to do his best and to stay cheerful and has not let this diagnosis cramp his style."

Luke is due to undergo another scan in April which will determine if the cluster of blood vessels can be treated using specialist x-ray surgery.

He suffers from occasional seizures and there is a very real possibility that he could suffer another haemorrhage.

But Sonia, dad Kevin Freestone, stepfather Mark Meakin, 35, brother James, 16, sister Grace, nine, and stepsister Jade, 13, are all right behind him.

Sonia said: "He's a little star, he always puts on a brave face and never moans about things, even though life's not always easy for him."

Launched in partnership between the Evening Telegraph, BBC Radio Derby, Derbyshire Building Society, Derby City Council and Derby County Football Club, the Community Champions awards give people a chance to nominate family, friends or neighbours who deserve recognition.

There are 14 award categories including Fund-raiser of the Year, Courage, the Extra Mile and Volunteer.

Nomination forms can be completed online at www.this isderbyshire.co.uk/champions or www.bbc.co.uk/derby. They can also be picked up from BBC Radio Derby, in St Helen's Street, Derby, and Derbyshire Building Society branches.

They should be returned to Kelly Shorrock, Community Champions, Derby Evening Telegraph, Northcliffe House, Meadow Road, Derby, DE1 2DW, by Friday, April 10. The winners will be invited to a ceremony at Pride Park Stadium, on May 17, when celebrities will hand out the prizes.