Help Tom Get His Arm Back!
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Tom’s Story
On the 18th June 2010 I had a stroke at the young age of 16. I had just finished my GCSE’s the day before. I had dreams of joining the army and later that month was booked on a week’s placement with the Royal Signals as a taster. I was also a keen member of my local army cadet force.
With this dream dashed. Not only had my chosen career gone, I had a long road of rehab ahead of me.
I was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn. But because I was 16 and classed a child they did not have and ITU that could cater for children, they decided to send me to Addenbrookes Hospital Cambridge. I was blue lighted down there, I then spent 5 days in ITU in a medically induced coma. On the 5th day they wanted to perform a decompression operation on my skull to take the pressure off my brain, but I showed signs of waking up naturally. I was then taken to an Acute Stroke ward where the staff could assess the damage to my young brain and body.
With the right side of my body paralysed not to mention my speaking, reading, writing and the ability to swallow all but gone. It was a catastrophic stroke. The summer of 2010 was spent in hospital instead of socialising with friends like any other teenager. After 8 weeks in hospital I was discharged with a wheel chair. I received home physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech and language therapy. My speech and language were extremely poor which lead me to drift away from my school friends, subsequently leading to isolation and depression.
The following year was taken up with physio and the diagnosis of a hole in the heart which was the cause of the stroke. I had to undergo an operation to repair this condition, this came with yet another type of recovery process. In 2011 I was awarded the young stroke survivor of the year, awarded to me by the Stroke Association for my bravery and determination in my recovery. https://www.stroke.org.uk/what-we-do/life-after-stroke-awards/life-after-stroke-awards-2011
At this current day I have no use of my right arm and my leg is supported by a leg brace, so I can walk. I have physiotherapy and regular Botox injections in my forearm and leg which help but are very painful and must be repeated every 4 – 6 months at hospital 50 miles from my home, which means I need to travel a 100 miles round trip to receive them.
After being told the use of my right arm would never come back and my leg would always be painful, weak and need supporting with a brace, I still had hope.
Recently I have met Dr Stephen Ray of the Wellbeing International Foundation, Dr Ray discussed with me ways I could get the use of my arm and leg back which would mean I could enjoy my life and feel normal. He told about stem cell therapy www.wellbeingint.com and how it could repair damaged parts of my body, he told me there is an incredibly high chance that this therapy could work for me.
If we could raise this money It will change mine and my families lives forever.
Thomas Scott – 2018
A video documenting Tom's journey, by the Life After Stroke Awards. Proudly standing with Johnson Beharry.
Tom with Mum, Alice, after carrying the Torch for the Torch Trials in 2012, walking with the aid of his leg brace for the distance.
Tom’s Story from the Family
8 years ago, Tom, your normal secondary school pupil had his life changed forever. With his GCSE exams done, and a vision of joining the Armed Forces, Tom had no idea what was about to happen.
Whilst alone in the family home for study leave, Tom had an immense bleed on the brain, and a stroke which would change his path. Once Tom had been discovered, with the help of the emergency medical teams and fire brigade, he was rushed into QEH, Kings Lynn, and then to Addenbrookes, Cambridge to ensure he received the best treatment he could. It would then be a gruelling few hours, days, weeks, months and then years for Tom to commence his recovery, constantly supported by his close family, and in particular his mum, Alice Rowley, who took time off to ensure she could care and support Tom in his journey.
Over the past 8 years Tom has shown us undeniable strength and courage in his battle to get his life back. To fight for his independence, and ensure he made a life out of what he has. With hours of painful physio therapy, counselling, speech therapy, and learning to read and write again, it’s been a journey that most of us couldn’t imagine battling. Tom has learnt to walk again with the aid of a leg brace, he fought to get his health to a stable condition, and then to pass his automatic driving test. The achievements Tom has made, both battling the aftermath of his stroke, the discrimination and struggles in the real world, alongside ensuring he maintains his own mental health, is amazing. But above all, Tom is a wonderful, caring and inspirational young man, who has achieved so much.
Tom has had to realign his dreams over the years, but with brand new technologies, Tom could get his life back. He could regain all of his independence, live his life without relying on parents, and find suitable full time employment. Tom could have his Arm back.
Tom has already started the intense electric acupuncture in his right arm, followed by even more physio therapy, and an array of vitamins and minerals which will help to prepare Tom for the procedure. It will take up to 3 years for Tom to regain full use of his arm, but those three years are costly. We are covering the cost of all physio therapy and the additional medication, but we need support in fundraising the £31,000 for the stem cell surgery. £31,000 is all it will cost to give Tom the life he didn’t think he could have again.
Tom has proven that no matter what life throws at you, you get back up and fight on. But now is our time to help him with that fight.
If you are able to donate anything, small or large, it all helps!
Thank you so much for reading Tom’s story, and for helping in anyway you can.
Tom, brother Harry and counsin Rory at Alexandra's wedding
Tom with his Mum, Alice and cousin Alexandra before his stroke
Tom with step-sister Grace raising money for The Stroke Association through sponsored skydives
On the 18th June 2010 I had a stroke at the young age of 16. I had just finished my GCSE’s the day before. I had dreams of joining the army and later that month was booked on a week’s placement with the Royal Signals as a taster. I was also a keen member of my local army cadet force.
With this dream dashed. Not only had my chosen career gone, I had a long road of rehab ahead of me.
I was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn. But because I was 16 and classed a child they did not have and ITU that could cater for children, they decided to send me to Addenbrookes Hospital Cambridge. I was blue lighted down there, I then spent 5 days in ITU in a medically induced coma. On the 5th day they wanted to perform a decompression operation on my skull to take the pressure off my brain, but I showed signs of waking up naturally. I was then taken to an Acute Stroke ward where the staff could assess the damage to my young brain and body.
With the right side of my body paralysed not to mention my speaking, reading, writing and the ability to swallow all but gone. It was a catastrophic stroke. The summer of 2010 was spent in hospital instead of socialising with friends like any other teenager. After 8 weeks in hospital I was discharged with a wheel chair. I received home physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech and language therapy. My speech and language were extremely poor which lead me to drift away from my school friends, subsequently leading to isolation and depression.
The following year was taken up with physio and the diagnosis of a hole in the heart which was the cause of the stroke. I had to undergo an operation to repair this condition, this came with yet another type of recovery process. In 2011 I was awarded the young stroke survivor of the year, awarded to me by the Stroke Association for my bravery and determination in my recovery. https://www.stroke.org.uk/what-we-do/life-after-stroke-awards/life-after-stroke-awards-2011
At this current day I have no use of my right arm and my leg is supported by a leg brace, so I can walk. I have physiotherapy and regular Botox injections in my forearm and leg which help but are very painful and must be repeated every 4 – 6 months at hospital 50 miles from my home, which means I need to travel a 100 miles round trip to receive them.
After being told the use of my right arm would never come back and my leg would always be painful, weak and need supporting with a brace, I still had hope.
Recently I have met Dr Stephen Ray of the Wellbeing International Foundation, Dr Ray discussed with me ways I could get the use of my arm and leg back which would mean I could enjoy my life and feel normal. He told about stem cell therapy www.wellbeingint.com and how it could repair damaged parts of my body, he told me there is an incredibly high chance that this therapy could work for me.
If we could raise this money It will change mine and my families lives forever.
Thomas Scott – 2018
A video documenting Tom's journey, by the Life After Stroke Awards. Proudly standing with Johnson Beharry.
Tom with Mum, Alice, after carrying the Torch for the Torch Trials in 2012, walking with the aid of his leg brace for the distance. Tom’s Story from the Family
8 years ago, Tom, your normal secondary school pupil had his life changed forever. With his GCSE exams done, and a vision of joining the Armed Forces, Tom had no idea what was about to happen.
Whilst alone in the family home for study leave, Tom had an immense bleed on the brain, and a stroke which would change his path. Once Tom had been discovered, with the help of the emergency medical teams and fire brigade, he was rushed into QEH, Kings Lynn, and then to Addenbrookes, Cambridge to ensure he received the best treatment he could. It would then be a gruelling few hours, days, weeks, months and then years for Tom to commence his recovery, constantly supported by his close family, and in particular his mum, Alice Rowley, who took time off to ensure she could care and support Tom in his journey.
Over the past 8 years Tom has shown us undeniable strength and courage in his battle to get his life back. To fight for his independence, and ensure he made a life out of what he has. With hours of painful physio therapy, counselling, speech therapy, and learning to read and write again, it’s been a journey that most of us couldn’t imagine battling. Tom has learnt to walk again with the aid of a leg brace, he fought to get his health to a stable condition, and then to pass his automatic driving test. The achievements Tom has made, both battling the aftermath of his stroke, the discrimination and struggles in the real world, alongside ensuring he maintains his own mental health, is amazing. But above all, Tom is a wonderful, caring and inspirational young man, who has achieved so much.
Tom has had to realign his dreams over the years, but with brand new technologies, Tom could get his life back. He could regain all of his independence, live his life without relying on parents, and find suitable full time employment. Tom could have his Arm back.
Tom has already started the intense electric acupuncture in his right arm, followed by even more physio therapy, and an array of vitamins and minerals which will help to prepare Tom for the procedure. It will take up to 3 years for Tom to regain full use of his arm, but those three years are costly. We are covering the cost of all physio therapy and the additional medication, but we need support in fundraising the £31,000 for the stem cell surgery. £31,000 is all it will cost to give Tom the life he didn’t think he could have again.
Tom has proven that no matter what life throws at you, you get back up and fight on. But now is our time to help him with that fight.
If you are able to donate anything, small or large, it all helps!
Thank you so much for reading Tom’s story, and for helping in anyway you can.
Tom, brother Harry and counsin Rory at Alexandra's weddingTom with his Mum, Alice and cousin Alexandra before his strokeTom with step-sister Grace raising money for The Stroke Association through sponsored skydivesOrganizer and beneficiary
Grace Rowley
Organizer
Thomas Scott
Beneficiary