AFTER four months in a wheelchair and an operation to straighten his spine, six-year-old William Gent is back at school and enjoying a relatively normal life.

His mum Katy Gent said his stint in hospital had even made him more confident and she has signed signed up for the OX5 Run to say thank you to the staff who got him back on his feet.

William was born with congenital kyphoscoliosis, a condition that means his spine did not form properly in the womb and does not grow straight.

He spent four months at Oxford Children's Hospital last year and after successful surgery the family, along with four-year-old sister Emily, are enjoying time at home together.

Mrs Gent said: "He's doing extremely well, his recent X-rays showed his back is still fantastically straight and he's moving well.

"We are all very much enjoying a relatively normal life at home and William has settled back into school perfectly.

"There are limitations to what William is able to do as he has metal rods in his back, but he manages to participate fully in school life."

The 38-year-old added: "My anxieties about him going back to school didn't come to life at all – he's settled in so well, in fact the hospital was such a positive experience for him.

"He had to make friends fast in there as people come and go so often and also he was talking to children of all ages and dealing with adults too – it's helped his confidence."

William will need to return for more surgery to straighten his spine as his body grows in the coming years but his mum said the wonderful care at the hospital meant they had nothing to fear.

The primary school teacher said: "It was very scary and daunting at first, with such a long stay in the hospital, but the staff helped us through it and the whole process had been so positive for us so it gives confidence for the future.

"I'm doing the run again this year, with my sister, to keep trying to raise money for the hospital and say thank you to the staff there.

"We are back home with William as a family because they were so brilliant."

Dad Daniel will be going even further for the hospital by running the London Marathon in April to raise money.

The OX5 Run is being sponsored by recruitment firm Allen Associates for the ninth year.

Last year's event saw a record-breaking £115,000 raised, which has already been spent on a sensory room to educate and entertain children in its high dependency unit, equipment to stabilise premature babies and a specialist nurse for children with severe asthma.

People who want to take part can do so by signing up online by going to hospitalcharity.co.uk/ox5run.