I live for my sports; I was goalkeeper for my Sunday League team and my school team, I was captain of the cross country team, vice captain of the rugby team and I was captain of the basketball team. I was an all-round sportsman. I enjoyed waking up every day knowing it was going to be sport, sport, and sport. But at the beginning of 2008 things changed, I started to be sick in the mornings and get severe headaches that I can only describe as real bad brain freeze.
My mum was getting worried, in six months she had me at the doctors on three occasions. Every time we went to the doctors they said it was anxiety, but my mum persevered and eventually the doctor sent me for some tests. After blood tests, eye tests, an MRI scan and a trip to the hospital in an ambulance with flashing blue lights and the sirens on, I had a tumour the size of an apricot removed from my brain.
On 14th October 2008, I started a six week course of radiotherapy and then in January 2009 I started having chemotherapy. I finished treatment at the end of 2009. Being treated on a Teenage Cancer Trust unit was so much better than an adult or a children's ward. I could be myself, my mum could stay over and my mates could visit too - it was great to still be able to hang out with them. In a nutshell, the unit allowed me to be a teenager and have my treatment at the same time. The Youth Support Coordinators encouraged me to get out of bed, just like my mum, to do things and not feel sorry for myself.
If it wasn't for Teenage Cancer Trust giving me some of the best moments of my life and being such a support, I don't think that I would have coped so well. Every day I was determined to make a 100% recovery. Without your support Teenage Cancer Trust can't continue to be amazing.