Whiz Kid William Oulton Keeps an Eye on the Future

One year after his diagnosis of a brain tumor, things are finally becoming a little more routine for William Oulton and his family.

As school was beginning last fall, seven-year-old William was having painful headaches. It turned out to be a brain tumor near his optic nerve and required immediate removal. After the initial 10-day stay at Children's Hospital, William would have chemotherapy and monitoring to treat the remaining 60% of the tumor. It was too near the optic nerve to do more.

Months later, the tumor had caused irreversible damage to William's vision. William is legally blind in one eye and has poor vision in the other.

While the Oulton family still copes "day by day", mom Christine Oulton says "in general we're doing well. No setbacks lately." The family had bracelets made that acknowledge the good and the bad: on one side it reads "Brain Tumors Suck" and on the other "Kids Are Amazing."

What's amazing about William is "definitely his silliness," says Christine. That, and his ability to talk to his parents and be clear about what's going on with him have helped the family cope in the last year. Prayer, good food, and "looking forward to future events" help too.

William has exchanged his passion for playing baseball--he was on the Padre's Farm Team in Medford--for Ultimate Frisbee, but he still enjoys watching the Red Sox play. His roster of activities includes "getting tortured by waves" at the beach, shooting hoops, skimboarding, skateboarding, and karate.

As the new school year rolls around, William is looking forward to Beckett Bowl 2011, an all-star bowling fundraiser for Children's Hospital at Lucky Strikes Lanes on August 29. William will throw out the first ball.

This is the fifth annual Beckett Bowl, a bowling event hosted by Red Sox star Josh Beckett that will include many local sports stars and celebrities.

William is excited to meet and bowl with sports celebrities, and is hoping to find Big Papi there. William and his brother, 10-year-old Patrick, are hoping David Ortiz will sign a picture for them. Both boys plan on having a great time.

Find out more about Becket Bowl 2011 and Children's Hospital here.