Shelley Sykes wrote of her sadness in confirming that her son Rory Sykes, aged 32, who previously appeared in the media as a boy talking about being born blind and living with cerebral palsy, and later worked as a motivational speaker, died at his family home in Malibu on Wednesday.

Rory Sykes was killed at his family’s estate in Malibu, Calif., on Wednesday, his mother announced on social media

Described as a "sought after motivational speaker," Rory was the inspiration for his mom's moving 2006 book Callum's Cure , and even once appeared as a keynote speaker for Tony Robbins ' Discovery Camp to address and inspire a group of disadvantaged children.