We are so proud to announce that Tommy, a young person who has been supported by Teens Unite throughout his battle, has deservingly won the Outstanding Bravery award at the London Children of Courage Awards.
Take a read of his inspirational story below, which has been courageously written by his mum Karen.
Well done Tommy!
"Tommy said he had an earache on Sunday 16th November 2014. He very rarely complained about anything and had always been a well child with 100% attendance at school. So when he woke up on Monday 17th morning and said it still hurt I thought I'd take him to the GP to get it checked. We managed to get an appointment so went to get his ear looked at. The doctor looked at his ear and said it was fine, but remarked that he looked a bit pale. So wanted to send us for a routine blood test as he thought he was probably anaemic. I remember thinking that he probably was because I have always suffered with anaemia. So we left the GP surgery and went straight to hospital for a blood test. I received a phone call from the GP saying that I needed to go to hospital to get his results, I asked why he couldn't tell me over the phone, and he said the doctor at the hospital wanted to explain the results to me. I said is he anaemic and he said surprisingly not! So then I asked again, well what is it? He said there is an abnormality in the blood and they needed to speak to me, and that we should go to the hospital ASAP. I then Google searched abnormality in the blood and it came back saying leukaemia, and I shook my head telling myself off for searching it as it couldn't possibly be that because he is not ill, nor tired or covered in bruises, which is what I associated with leukaemia.
Take a read of his inspirational story below, which has been courageously written by his mum Karen.
Well done Tommy!
"Tommy said he had an earache on Sunday 16th November 2014. He very rarely complained about anything and had always been a well child with 100% attendance at school. So when he woke up on Monday 17th morning and said it still hurt I thought I'd take him to the GP to get it checked. We managed to get an appointment so went to get his ear looked at. The doctor looked at his ear and said it was fine, but remarked that he looked a bit pale. So wanted to send us for a routine blood test as he thought he was probably anaemic. I remember thinking that he probably was because I have always suffered with anaemia. So we left the GP surgery and went straight to hospital for a blood test. I received a phone call from the GP saying that I needed to go to hospital to get his results, I asked why he couldn't tell me over the phone, and he said the doctor at the hospital wanted to explain the results to me. I said is he anaemic and he said surprisingly not! So then I asked again, well what is it? He said there is an abnormality in the blood and they needed to speak to me, and that we should go to the hospital ASAP. I then Google searched abnormality in the blood and it came back saying leukaemia, and I shook my head telling myself off for searching it as it couldn't possibly be that because he is not ill, nor tired or covered in bruises, which is what I associated with leukaemia.
After about fifteen minutes the doctor came in and started checking him all over, and I asked what she was looking for, she said she was just checking him over. I said what are you looking for, what results have you got to tell me? With that she sat on the floor and put her hands on mine and Tommy's knees and said I am checking your son for leukaemia! We both screamed, Tommy's initial reaction was “I'm going to die!” And was just screaming and really frightened, I just kept shouting you are wrong, he is not even ill, I hated her! How could she tell me this, he only had an earache (which had now gone!) I don't remember much else and somehow I must have left Tommy as I had to call Andy. I told him over the phone that he had leukaemia! I was just screaming. I don't remember much else! Everything seemed a blur! I said to the doctor you must have made a mistake, could it just be an infection, she said I hope I am wrong! I couldn't believe this was happening, he had an earache! Not cancer! Tommy was really quiet and kept crying and I kept reassuring him that he was going to be fine, even though underneath I was in bits, crumbling at the thought of my miracle baby boy (our 3rd attempt of IVF) had cancer!
We were then transferred to UCLH hospital and had doctors, nurses, specialist all round us, in a private room on an amazing ward. But I didn't want to talk to anyone. We shouldn't be here! They must be wrong! We were told his plan of treatment and that they would be doing a lumber punch to check his bone marrow, and various tests followed by chemotherapy! This was my little boy, he was scared, I felt sick with worry and we didn't know what lied ahead. We knew we had to stay in hospital for at least two weeks, which was awful, not being at home, not being able to be a family. The things you take for granted suddenly are gone, I couldn't even think about Jack and Gracie at this point I couldn't leave Tommy I just sat holding his hand and stroking his face, crying under my breath. I don't remember about the days that followed this, lots of doctors seeing him, nurses in and out, my phone ringing every few minutes as the news filtered through to family and friends. As the days all become one, we realised that life would never be the same again. I remember the doctor saying that you give us three years of your life and we will give you the rest of your life back! (3 years of treatment! )
We were then transferred to UCLH hospital and had doctors, nurses, specialist all round us, in a private room on an amazing ward. But I didn't want to talk to anyone. We shouldn't be here! They must be wrong! We were told his plan of treatment and that they would be doing a lumber punch to check his bone marrow, and various tests followed by chemotherapy! This was my little boy, he was scared, I felt sick with worry and we didn't know what lied ahead. We knew we had to stay in hospital for at least two weeks, which was awful, not being at home, not being able to be a family. The things you take for granted suddenly are gone, I couldn't even think about Jack and Gracie at this point I couldn't leave Tommy I just sat holding his hand and stroking his face, crying under my breath. I don't remember about the days that followed this, lots of doctors seeing him, nurses in and out, my phone ringing every few minutes as the news filtered through to family and friends. As the days all become one, we realised that life would never be the same again. I remember the doctor saying that you give us three years of your life and we will give you the rest of your life back! (3 years of treatment! )
It was all too much to take in, and the plan of treatment and all the drug regimens where explained to us. There were different blocks of treatment, the first intense block was really hard, having chemotherapy travelling backwards and forwards to London whilst he was feeling weak, and no energy. On top of this he was on steroids which affected all his muscles, he struggled to walk up the stairs or walk down the road without getting out of breath. The treatment had its ups and downs, but the hardest points were when he lost his hair, falling out on his pillow, and his face blowing up from steroids. It didn't look like Tommy, but through all of this he carried on going to school as much as he could, with us dropping him off and picking him up. There were several times when his bloods would drop and he would need urgent blood transfusions and platelet transfusions, and whenever he got a temperature he would have to be admitted to hospital for 48hrs of IV antibiotics, which again meant out family was separated. This happened several times in the first 6 months. The lowest point of it all was the weight loss, he was very thin before this started but the chemo knocked his appetite and he just couldn't eat. In April they decided he needed to have an feeding tube put in which he was so against, but deep down I knew he needed it he was so frail and looked so thin it was worrying.
So we went to UCLH and had to stay in for 48hrs to get the feeds up and running, and learn how to do this ourselves. The next 3 months were the hardest time, having to encourage him to eat in between feeds, and then give his prescribed feeds at regular intervals through the day and evening, it was like a full time caring Job. I didn't realise how hard and time consuming it was juggling feeds, caring for Tommy taking him for his treatment, also caring for our other 2 children too. But though all of this journey Tommy never ever complained once about having to have treatment, and carried on going to school (within a learning mentor room) so others didn't see him. It destroyed his confidence (which he lacked before leukaemia) but not his determination and bravery. He really is an inspirational young man that I know his school friends all admire and his teachers are amazed by. But most of all Andy and I, couldn't be prouder of the young man that he has become. He was born almost 15 years ago our miracle baby, and he is now our hero.
For everyone at Teens Unite for giving Tommy confidence and some amazing opportunities that he has experienced in the last year, his journey would have been a much darker place without you in his life. Tommy still has approximately 2 years of treatment ahead of him, taking daily oral chemo tablets at home, blood test once a week and hospital visits every 6 weeks, but life is slowly getting back to some sort of normality! Although I am never complacent and every day I ask my children if they feel ok, especially Tommy. It has certainly taught us never to take life for granted, and to live laugh and love as you never know what's around the corner! Enjoy life to the full.
Very well deserved. I have a lot of respect and time for Tommy, your determination and bravery at school is just amazing. It's a pleasure to know and support you at school. Your amazing don't ever forget that. Jane. (Miss Benson).
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