In his top rated Netflix Documentary 'How I'm Feeling Now', Scottish singer, Lewis Capaldi opens up about living with Tourettes Syndrome. It's a neurological condition which causes people to make involuntary sounds and movements called tics. The singer's shoulder tic is shown to be so painful he had to stop performing, mid concert. 

Harry Banks, 11, from Shepton Mallet has been so effected by the severe tic disorder and accompanying seizures, that he's been unable to attend school for over a year.

"In February, 2022, Harry suddenly started to have neck and hand twitches, which quickly progressed into severe full body convulsions and vocal tics " explains his mum Heather. "I started researching about Tourettes Syndrome.  All I knew was about the swearing tics, and I was glad he didn't have them. But soon he had them too, and it really upset him, and his classmates."

Heather says his school at the time, St.Paul's CofE Juniors , in Shepton Mallet, were really understanding and tried to accommodate him- but he couldn't to sit his SATS exams in year 6, and was soon unable to attend more than half a day a week. "He was not able to transition to the local Secondary school, and no schools in Somerset can meet his needs. It's devastating."

"He has terrible pain from constant motor tics, and also began to have prolonged non-epileptic seizures, meaning he needs to be in a wheelchair most of the time. He was given a Tourettes diagnosis, OCD and Anxiety which are often part of TS. But there is no cure, and very few effective treatments."

The charity 'Tourette's Action' posted on social media that a new wrist device had been trialed at Nottingham University by Lewis Capaldi. Harry saw the post and was very excited. 'Neupulse' is a wearable device that may help significantly reduce motor and vocal tics. 

Harry says "I saw Lewis Capaldi had tried it, and he said it helped. I really want to try it when it's out, I really hate having Tourette's sometimes. I miss out on a lot of fun stuff all my friends can do. I feel embarrassed when I tic, and especially when I swear or say mean things which I don't mean."

The device is will not be available on the NHS to start with, so Heather and Harry are fundraising to try the private treatment, and also access specialist clinical support for his seizures - which may be treated separately ( as the underlying cause is unknown). 

Follow Harry's story and donate at https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-for-harry-tourettes-syndrome-seizures they also have a Tik Tok to raise awareness of Tourette's Syndrome @heather_and_harry