Member of the Month April 2026

In September, Jenson became unwell with severe headaches, vomiting, and sensitivity to light. He was admitted to hospital, where he was treated for meningitis without undergoing a lumbar puncture. After three days, he was discharged when his blood tests returned normal results.

Over the following three months, his family made repeated visits to A&E and their GP due to the persistence of the same symptoms. Each time, they were reassured that the symptoms would settle and were likely part of the viral illness he had experienced in September.

In November 2025, Jenson collapsed, suffering from intense headaches and vomiting. Trusting a strong instinct that something more serious was wrong, his parent rushed him back to A&E and insisted on further investigation, including a brain scan. Within 24 hours, Jenson was diagnosed with a large brain tumour. He was urgently transferred by emergency transport to Bristol Royal Children’s Hospital, over 200 miles from home.

Since that moment, Jenson has remained in hospital. He has undergone seven operations. The first two procedures were carried out to relieve a dangerous build-up of fluid putting pressure on his brain. This was followed by a 13-hour surgery to remove a high-risk medulloblastoma, a tumour that had also spread cancer to other parts of his brain and spine. He has since required the placement of a shunt.

Following surgery, Jenson developed Posterior Fossa Syndrome, leaving him unable to walk, talk, or swallow. Despite these immense challenges, he showed remarkable determination. Six months on, Jenson has made significant progress—he is now walking, swallowing, and has recently begun to speak again.

Jenson also faced 30 consecutive days of proton beam therapy, requiring daily anaesthetic. Throughout this demanding treatment, he approached each day with courage and positivity, often smiling and forming strong bonds with the medical team caring for him. During six weeks of treatment, he also required several blood transfusions, which he handled with the same resilience.

He is now preparing to begin nine months of chemotherapy, with hopes of returning home in January 2027. Along the way, Jenson has found moments of joy, particularly in collecting his Beads of Courage, including a special bead received on his birthday—a small but meaningful symbol of his extraordinary journey.