One Direction make brave Callum's dreams come true

Lads meet poorly 4-year-old thanks to The Sun and charity Rays Of Sunshine

Magic ... poorly Callum and dad Simeon meet 1D boys backstage

Neil Jones / The Sun

By EMMA FOSTER

Last Updated: 23rd April 2013

LITTLE Callum Keenan’s dreams came true when he met his idols One Direction before the band’s special Sun concert.

The brave four-year-old – who has recently undergone a kidney transplant – beamed with joy as he met his heroes Harry, Niall, Zayn, Louis and Liam.
Callum brought mum Catherine and dad Simeon, little brother Caiden, three, cousin Cerys Holden, 12, and his favourite teddy Iggle Piggle to the special meeting, where he got to chat to the boys and pose for pictures.
He said afterwards: “That was wicked!”
Mum Catherine Roe, 26, from Birmingham, said: “He absolutely loves One Direction – when they come on he dances round the house and gets so excited.
“They came on in the car on the way here and he was bouncing around all over the place.
“He got a bit shy when he met the boys - which is unlike him – he was just gob-smacked.
“I think he was in shock when he actually saw the band face to face –especially his favourite Liam - but they were great with him.
“It’s so lovely to come here to the concert and meet the boys – especially after everything Callum has been through.
“He was so excited before we came here – this morning he kept asking:
‘When are we getting up? When are we getting up?”

Memories ... Callum meets his hero Harry Styles

Neil Jones / The Sun

Callum’s dream day was organised by The Sun's charity partner Rays of Sunshine – which grants the wishes of children with serious or life-threatening illnesses. The cute four-year-old made his wish to meet the band – who are ambassadors for the charity - while he was in hospital undergoing a kidney transplant back in June.
The life-saving kidney was donated by his dad Simeon Milland, who said it was the “best gift” he could give to his little lad.
It was one of many hospital visits Callum has faced he was diagnosed with renal failure when he was born.

Excited ... Callum and cousin Cerys get ready for the Sun gig

Neil Jones / The Sun

Doting dad Simeon, 26, who is currently out of work, said: “When he was born less than 10 percent of his kidneys were working. “He had to have several operations including one to remove his right kidney - so he’s been in and out of hospital since he was a baby.
“Then a couple of years ago we found out that I could be a donor for him – which was great news -but he had a build-up of anti-bodies so we had to wait for them to go down.
“Just a couple of months before his transplant he had kidney failure but luckily the guys at Birmingham Children’s Hospital were great and got him back on his feet quickly.
“Then on June 25 we had the transplant.
“Since the transplant he’s been smashing, his blood tests are like that of a normal child and he’s grown and put on weight.
“I was fighting fit really quickly after the operation – it’s the best gift I could give to my child.
“It was when he was in hospital for the transplant that he said he wanted to meet One Direction.
“He loves them – when he sees them on TV he goes bonkers and jumps off the sofa.
“He knows all the dances and everything. His favourite song is Kiss You.”
Catherine added: “Before he was born they said he might not even survive so it’s just brilliant that he can live like a normal child, go to school and do things like this.
“To see him enjoying himself today has been great.”
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The charity relies on donations from the public. To make a donation, you can text WISH13 followed by the amount in pounds to 70070.
You can also nominate a child for a wish, or choose to make Rays of Sunshine as your charity at school or work.