“I felt dizzy during a cricket game at 14 – then collapsed at home and found out something shocking”

When Thomas Jackson was 14 years old, he was playing cricket in an important semi-final match for Hyde Under 19s. He wasn’t feeling well during the game—he had a bad headache and felt dizzy.

After drinking some water, he felt a little better and managed to finish the match. He even made one of the best catches of his career, diving several feet to his right.

However, what Thomas and his family didn’t realize was that his health problem was much more serious than just a headache.

When Thomas got home that evening, he felt much worse. He couldn’t even stand up. His mother, Clare, remembers him collapsing on the kitchen floor.

They immediately rushed him to Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital. Scans revealed a shocking discovery: Thomas had a brain tumor the size of a golf ball.

The news was devastating for his family. The doctors told them that Thomas would need surgery right away, along with intense treatments like radiotherapy and chemotherapy to fight the tumor.

Thomas went through a lot in the following weeks. His surgery lasted 20 hours over two days, and he had to stay in the hospital for about three months.

Even after the surgery, he needed more treatment. He was chosen for a special type of therapy called proton beam therapy.

This treatment uses targeted beams to destroy any remaining cancer cells, and it causes less damage to healthy parts of the brain compared to regular radiation treatments. Thomas had to stick to a strict schedule, receiving chemotherapy in the morning and proton beam therapy in the afternoon.

On top of the challenges of his illness, Thomas had to deal with the fact that his treatment took place during the COVID-19 pandemic. This meant that he could only see his mom and dad during this difficult time, as visits were restricted to keep everyone safe.

Despite all this, Thomas stayed strong and followed the treatment plan. By August 2021, he rang the hospital’s bell to mark the end of his treatment, a moment that brought hope to him and his family.

However, the fight wasn’t over yet. The tumor and the treatments had affected Thomas’ physical abilities.

He lost a lot of strength and had trouble with balance and coordination. He also struggled with his speech.

But with the help of occupational therapists and physiotherapists, Thomas slowly began to recover. He worked hard for about a year, doing therapy a few times a week to rebuild his strength and regain his independence.

Thomas’ recovery was so inspiring that he decided to pursue a career in physiotherapy. After experiencing first-hand how important rehabilitation is, he wanted to help others who are going through similar challenges.

He enrolled in the University of Salford to study physiotherapy, excited to learn more about how the body works and how to help people recover from injuries and illness.

Coming from a sports background, Thomas is especially interested in how athletes and people like him can get back to doing the things they love after facing serious health issues.

His family is incredibly proud of how far he’s come. His dad, Neil, said that Thomas is not only getting stronger physically, but he’s also returning to his passion for cricket.

Neil often takes Thomas out to practice his catching and batting, and they’ve seen a lot of improvement. In their home, they call it “Project 21,” referring to their goal for Thomas to be fully back to playing cricket by the age of 21.

Today, Thomas is thriving. He has passed his driving test, works part-time at Tesco, watches his favorite football team, Manchester City, and achieved top grades in school. His dad believes that Thomas will have a bright future in physiotherapy because he knows exactly what it’s like to go through the healing process.

Throughout Thomas’ journey, his family never forgot the incredible support they received from the staff at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital. They are thankful for everyone—from the doctors and nurses to the cleaners and security guards—who helped them during the most challenging time of their lives.

Dr. Anthony Penn, Thomas’ oncologist, praised Thomas for his dedication to his rehabilitation and described him as a role model for young people going through similar experiences. Thomas’ courage and determination have made him a true inspiration, not just in cricket, but in life.