A DEVOTED grandmother who battled with doctors for ten years in a search for answers about her grandson's behavioural problems is to publish a book about her remarkable story.

Rita Cecil-Smith, 78, who has faced bouts of cancer, the break-up of her son's marriage, and a decade-long quest for a diagnosis into her beloved Harry's health, said she decided to put pen to paper in the hope of helping others in a similar position.

Mrs Cecil-Smith, of Glengall Road in Woodford Green, always suspected something was “different” about her grandson, despite scepticism from his parents and doctors.

She said: “From when he was three months old I noticed he was different. But everytime I took him to the doctors they said there was nothing wrong.”

It was only a chance meeting with an American doctor while she was on holiday with her two grandsons in the Caribbean back in 2003 that Harry's condition was finally diagnosed.

She said: “We got talking to this doctor. I didn't realise it at the time but that conversation changed my life forever.”

Mrs Cecil-Smith, who looks after 15-year-old Harry on a weekly basis and throughout the summer holidays while his parents are at work, was told by the doctor he suspected her grandson had asperger's syndrome.

After another two-year struggle with doctors in the UK, his condition was finally confirmed.

She said: “We went through so many terrible times, firstly trying to get answers and then facing all the myths of asperger's.

“But once he was diagnosed it changed everything. If you accept the fact there's no cure then there's a certain strategy you can take - and it's changed Harry too. He doesn't have temper tantrums anymore and he has the most impeccable manners. He's such a happy boy now, it's wonderful to see.”

“I have gone through a lot of stress but it's not a doom and gloom book. It's a happy story and I hope people can take something positive away from it.

“You hear about the impact on parents but what gets neglected is how something like that can affect grandparents too.”

The book, which is published under Mrs Cecil-Smith's maiden name – Rite Jamieson, is called The Trouble With Harry and costs £7.99. It will soon be available from the Village Bookshop in Woodford Green and the Bookshop in Loughton.

Copies will also be on sale at a table-top stall at the Chigwell Riding Trust in Grange Farm, High Road Chigwell, on Sunday July 19.