AT first Joan Dunn, a diabetic, blamed herself for her son Josh's disability. He was born two months premature and had a low blood sugar level, which doctors say is one of the causes of cerebral palsy.

It was some months later when she discovered that most premature babies, even those without diabetic mothers, have low blood sugar levels.

'It was a huge burden. It is devastating when you learn that your child is diabetic and I felt so guilty when I thought it could have been down to my illness,' said Joan.

It wasn't until he was 18-months-old that cerebral palsy was diagnosed.

Josh was unable to sit up and crawl like other children his age. At first this was put down to his prematurity, but as months went by, it became apparent that it was something more serious.

Doctors warned that Josh might never be able to talk, they were sure he would not be continent and his mobility would be very poor.

But Joan, 38, her husband Phil, 48, and their family refused to accept it.

'Cerebral palsy means that the brain isn't sending the right message to parts of his body. So Josh can't do things automatically like walk or talk. He has to think carefully about every movement,' said Joan.

When Joan went to see a reflexologist for her own health problems shortly before the birth of her second son Jonathan, she decided to study alternative therapies herself in a bid to help Josh.

In 2000, she began a holistic therapies diploma, which involved learning reflexology, aromatherapy and massage. She then went on to do an advanced diploma studying, among other things, crystal healing.

She completed a biomechanics course in Devon, which taught spinal touch therapy and she learned sports therapy at West Cheshire College.

Earlier this year, Joan became a reiki master and now, to complete her vast array of qualifications, she is studying for a degree in Homoeopathy at the North West College of Homoeopathy in Manchester.

She even transformed a spare room in the house into a therapy room. And now the hard work has paid off.

With treatments, Joan has helped Joshua to control his bowel and bladder and he is now toilet trained.

Spinal touch therapy dramatically straightened his posture and she managed to straighten his wrists, which used to turn inwards, but are now practically straight.

Joshua now gets about on a walker and occasionally uses sticks.

'The doctors said that he would probably never be toilet trained. But I didn't want to just leave it at that.

'Joshua deserved dignity. He may have cerebral palsy but he still felt embarrassed having to wear nappies and now he doesn't have to.'

Joan is so convinced about the effectiveness of holistic therapies, she is trying to make the benefits known to others.

She often helps friends with bad backs or other injuries and she administers therapies to a friend's baby girl, who also has cerebral palsy.

She also goes into Josh's school, Dorin Park in Upton, every week for aromatherapy sessions and has taught some of the teachers how to do it.

'If I can help somebody then I will,' she said. 'I have proved that homoeopathy and holistic therapies worked. We hardly have any pharmaceuticals in our house now. We use remedies and crystals.'

To say that Joan is proud of Josh is an understatement. She paid tribute to her son's happy-go-lucky and bubbly personality.

She spoke of a recent time when he was taken horse-riding. He spent the full hour laughing because he was tickled by the sensation of the horse's movement.

Joan only has to say the word 'trot' to him and he bursts into a fit of giggles.

'There is something about him that touches everybody he meets,' she said. 'It's like an aura, everybody is affected, he is just one of those people.

'He is a little angel. So is his brother Jonathan, although they are both very different.'

Like Morecambe and Wise, Joshua and Jonathan are a double act.

When Joan and Phil extended their house for a downstairs bedroom and bathroom for Josh, they had to get bunk-beds because the brothers insisted they wanted to be together.

'It's like Jonathan has all the mobility that Josh should have had,' says Joan, 'he is extraordinary flexible and supple. He will climb up for the things that Josh can't get to.

'Josh is the brains of the partnership and Jonathan is the gofer.'

Joan, Josh and Jonathan are all actively involved with the 35th Chester Scouts. Josh is a cub, Jonathan is a beaver and Joan leads the beaver class from the scouts headquarters in Filkins Lane, Great Boughton.

'There are a couple of disabled children in the class, and there is another little boy with cerebral palsy. I think

that mothers feel more comfortable leaving their child with somebody who has experience with disabilities.'

Joan says that Joshua is increasing in confidence all the time. He is now spending one day a week at a mainstream school, Upton Heath Primary, which Jonathan attends.

With the help of a personal tutor, his handwriting is improving and his hand is becoming accustomed to holding a pen.

She said: 'Joshua isn't stupid, he wants to learn and he can, it's just physically things are difficult for him.

'It has been a rough ride for him, but he is getting better all the time.'