Lucas Kiser is some nine years away from starting his college career, but his future high school is already investing in him.
The Eltham youngster has a rare condition known as Stickler Syndrome — a group of hereditary conditions characterised by a distinctive facial appearance, eye abnormalities, hearing loss, and joint problems.
Lucas and his family are going to America later this year to attend the Stickler Foundation Conference to find out more about his condition and see specialists who may be able to help Lucas in the future.
Lucas is the only confirmed case of genetic Stickler Syndrome in medical history and the conference, in Oregon, will enable him to be seen by world experts, helping not just his own case, but also people with it in the future.
Lucas's mother, Sonia, says they have always planned to enrol Lucas at Francis Douglas Memorial College in New Plymouth for his high school years as that is where his father, Michael, went to school.