He is a nine-year-old magician, an actor and a small-time model for several TV ads including Surf Excel, Dulux paints and Whirlpool. Yet, what makes Ashley Vanristell of Mumbai different is the manner in which he is coping with a rare disease called hypogammaglobulinemia.

It is a disorder marked by the absence of sufficient antibodies leading to a low body immune system. This meant that Ashley used to be constantly ill, contracting bacterial or viral infections. “He has to be given immunity-raising medicines intravenously once every month throughout his life. Now the imported medicine costs Rs 64,000 a month,’’ Ashley’s mom Andrea told Deccan Herald. Ashley is here as a delegate to Vismayam, the international magic festival jointly organised by Magic Academy and Department of Tourism.

“I was down and out when I came to know about the illness. The doctors found that it was a genetic disorder with myself acting as a carrier from my grandmother,’’ said Andrea. However, the cute looking boy has been showing great maturity in coping with the disease. “I told her not to waste her time crying and talk to people instead. I also thought that I should make use of my magic skills to earn money. I have done more than 1,000 shows so far,’’ said the little boy who mastered magic by coincidence when he was presented with a kit during Christmas. He can turn candles and ropes into flowers, make scarves disappear, fill or empty a glass of milk and so on.

Ashley’s medical condition has earned him support from Mrs Kokilaben Ambani who has been financing his treatment at the family-run hospital. A standard IV student, Ashley also won support from many ordinary people who saw him in Rajat Sharma’s show. Ashley has also acted in the film Salam-e-Ishq and a TV serial. Even though Ashley’s father Clive works under a sub-contractor in an oil rig in Iran, Andrea says his income is hardly enough to buy a month’s medicine.