‘He’s my little star’ - award for Sydenham boy who has come through cancer treatment

Thomas Lawson was diagnosed with bi-retinoblastoma - a type of eye cancer - in both his eyes when he was just five months old.

An operation at Birmingham Children’s Hospital in 2008 has meant that, although his sight is limited in his left eye, he is able to go to school and enjoy drawing and colouring, like any other boy his age.

After being nominated for a Cancer Research UK Little Stars award by his grandfather, Thomas was on Wednesday presented with a special star-shaped trophy by the charity, as well as a £50 gift card to spend at TK Maxx, which supports the award scheme, and a certificate signed by celebrities.

His mum Becky, who has had to give up work to look after Thomas, said: “It has been really hard for such a young child to have his life dominated by medical treatment, but he has come through it with enormous courage and resilience.

“We never take life for granted any more and we owe Thomas’s survival to the incredible advances that have been made in children’s cancer research.”

Mrs Lawson spotted a squint in her baby son’s eye when he was three months old, but it took another two for the tumours to be discovered.

She said: “We were absolutely devastated. Thomas was an IVF baby and we had waited a long time to have him. We had been married for 13 years and were on our 13th IVF attempt when we had him, and he was born on the 13th - so we reckon 13 was his lucky number.”

The family have also had to cope with Thomas’s dad Robin losing his job and being diagnosed with epilepsy - meaning he is no longer able to drive - but they are positive about their family’s future. Although Thomas will need to be monitored by doctors for the rest of his life, Mrs Lawson is confident that his prognosis is good.

Every child who has cancer or has received cancer treatment in the last five years and is nominated will receive an award from the charity. For further details, go online.