Tom's Story

Tom was a healthy active 10 year old. He played football for his local team and was also very much into any kind of sport. He was rarely poorly, just the normal cold or school bug doing the rounds.

During the first few months of 2022 he was picking up a few more bugs but was always fit and healthy in-between. Doctors put it down to viruses and we carried on as normal.

In May he was poorly for a week, off his food and very lethargic. When he returned to school we noted that his breathing was heavy and we took him to A&E early on 17th May.

They initially thought it was asthma and tried inhalers, a chest X-ray showed fluid in his lungs and as soon as bloods returned we were called into a side room and told he had leukaemia.

We were blue lighted to Alder Hey intensive care and I was told that he might not make it through the night.

That night was the worst of my life but he made it through 4 days on intensive care and then started 8 long months of intensive chemotherapy at RMCH.

The first 2 months were as in patient and for the first month his older brother couldn't even visit him. The treatment is brutal but he reached remission and we are now 3 months off finishing treatment in September.

Throughout this time Tom has shown bravery and strength that no teenage boy should have to. We are very much looking forward to this little break away to spend much needed time together and with grandparents.

Thank you to everyone at Bens charity for this break