Byron Waller, 14, to fly around Australia after battling Crohn’s disease

A 14-year-old Brisbane boy is counting down the days in his bid to fly around Australia after battling a debilitating disease which at one stage put him in a wheelchair.

14-year-old Byron Waller has Crohn’s disease but has a dream to fly across the country to raise funds. Picture: John Gass

A 14-year-old Brisbane boy is counting down the days in his bid to fly around Australia after battling a debilitating disease which at one stage put him in a wheelchair.

Remarkably, not that long ago Byron Waller was so ill from intestinal disorder Crohn’s Disease that he had to attend school in a wheelchair.

But he has bravely fought back and now was focused on an epic journey in September to circumnavigate the country, starting at Archerfield Airport.

“I’m going all the way up to Horn Island, then to Mt Isa and then across to Darwin before flying down to Adelaide, Tasmania, Melbourne, Sydney and back to Brisbane,” he said.

The 10,000km journey would be a huge challenge considering Byron,a student pilot, had only about 45 flight hours under his belt.

14-year-old Byron Waller has Crohn’s disease but has a dream to fly across the country to raise funds for and awareness of the illness. Picture: John Gass

He has been preparing himself with navigation lessons, air traffic control communication, flight planning and other skills.

Byron said he hoped to obtain a private pilot’s licence and also a commercial licence as he chased his dream to become an airline pilot.

His other challenge, Crohn’s Disease, has been so much harder, however, after he was diagnosed in February.

“There’s lots of fatigue and growth delays, which limit me from going out and doing sports,” he said.

“I had quite a few symptoms like abdominal pain, diarrhoea, fatigue and blood in my stool (as well as) fistulas and abscesses.

“I had to go to school in a wheelchair for a week because I had such extreme abdominal pain.”

Byron Waller has been in hospital multiple times to treat Crohn’s disease.

He spent nine months in Queensland Children’s Hospital, including before he was formally diagnosed, but has since greatly improved.

“I’m currently feeling a lot better but I’ve been in and out of hospital for appointments,” he said.

“(I’ve) been on lots of medications, lots of IV drips, medications, infusions and stuff.”

His mother Jeni Langdon said she had to specially prepare food he could tolerate.

“When you’re flying around Australia there’s not much food available and he needs to eat to keep himself with energy,” she said.

“So we’ve been trying to find ways (for him) to actually eat food while he’s travelling.

“We’ve found people who vacuum pack food that might be suitable for him, so we’ve been trialing him on that.

“And we’re looking at what dehydrated food options (there are).”

Byron said he hoped to give presentations at local schools and community clubs during his epic journey.

“I can spread awareness of Crohn’s and show people they’re not alone with their medical conditions,” he said.

14-year-old Byron Waller in the cockpit. Picture: John Gass

The brave teen said he was able to put his medical concerns aside when he was flying.

“I was really sick and I just wanted to get out of the house,” he said.

“I really enjoy going up. It’s like flying into freedom.

“You just feel like you’re in control of the situation.”

He will be flying with his instructor during the trip who could take over in case of emergency.

Byron has started a fundraiser to help pay the rent on a Cessna 172 for his journey and also to raise money for Crohn’s disease research.