Doctors stumped as Ben gets back in game
Three years after doctors said he would never play sport again because of a rare health condition that forced him to use a mobility scooter, Ben McInnes is back on his feet.
The 19-year-old was diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, which has inhibited the sports-mad teenager and stopped him finishing school.
However, after finding a new revolutionary rheumatologist, the medical marvel represented Broome in the prestigious country week cricket competition in Perth against a collection of the State's best players in January.
Despite the issues he has had to overcome, the plucky Broome man has been given a fresh lease of life.
"Three years ago they told me I would probably never play cricket again or sport, but now I am back doing what I love," Mr McInnes told _The Broome Advertiser _.
"I have injections every four days and take medication daily but it has given me my life back."
Mr McInnes' mother Sharon said her son grew cysts in-between his joints and there was a risk his bones could fracture.
"Ben's current rheumatologist reckons he has had it ever since he was a baby," she said.
"He never crawled; it took him 18 months before he walked.
"He used to struggle to get off the floor."
At 15, Mr McInnes was living with his family in Queensland and his condition had worsened.
He was forced to use a mobility scooter for two years.
"By that stage it was already in his feet, ankles, knees, wrist and had developed in his shoulder," Mrs McInnes said.
The McInnes family moved to WA a couple of years ago, with Ben "basically bed-ridden" according to his mother.
The discovery of Perth-based rheumatologist Kevin Murray and his course of treatment has given Mr McInnes the chance to live a normal life for the past 12 months.
He landed his "dream job" with Sportspower and was able to play cricket again.
He won the local flag with the Dirty Dozen last year before representing the town in Perth, where he bowled 25 overs straight.
Mr McInnes' attitude has always been positive according to his mother.
"I would always be the one at the rheumatologist as a crying mess because I can't fix him, but Ben treats it as just another speed bump that he can get over," she said.
"His attitude is brilliant."
Mr McIness was quick to thank his parents, Dan and Sharon, sister Candace and brother-in-law Shae for their continued support and said he was "very, very grateful" to employers Lorna, Pete and Scott Hanna.
Broome Cricket Association president James Carpenter said Mr McInnes was an inspiration to his teammates and never spoke of being in pain, only his love of sport.
"Teammates describe their admiration at Ben's never-say-die attitude," he said.
"Ben never complains about the pain, the discomfort or the impact of the arthritis; only his absolute love for cricket and driven desire to win."
Mrs McInnes said she would be happy to talk to any other families in Broome or the Kimberley who were in a similar position and offer guidance.
Mr McInnes is looking forward to making the most of his life in Broome both at work and play, and stressed that anyone going through similar ailments must remain positive.
"It would have been easy to sit at home, not doing anything and thinking 'poor me, poor me'," he said. "The way that I look at it is that there will always be people out there worse off than me.
"There are people out there doing it tougher than I am."
