Tributes to Battle toddler after he loses leukaemia fight

Little Thomas Lawson sadly passed away on February 5, aged just two.

His mum, Hollie James, said: “Thomas was like any other carefree, healthy, happy two-year-old boy who loved to play, whether it was playing monsters with his brothers and sister, digging up worms in the garden or going on one of his ‘adventures’ with his partner in crime, Oscar.

“In November we started noticing a few bruises on his legs and didn’t think much about it. However, more and more bruises started to appear over him and one evening in the bath a huge bruise was apparent on his knee. He hadn’t had a big fall or accident so we arranged to take him to the doctors. From there we were sent straight to the hospital. At the hospital a parent’s worst nightmare happened. Thomas was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, a form of blood cancer on November 30. There are no words to describe how shocked we were.”

Thomas was trasferred to St George’s in London for chemotherapy.

He had to be treated for all kinds of infections due to the leukaemia. Thomas then suffered a major stroke due to an infection, which resulted in loss of movement down his left side and loss of speech.

Hollie added: “Little by little we slowly started to lose Thomas. He went for an emergency brain scan and was moved to intensive care. He kept having seizures, fits and more strokes. A few days later a scan showed a bleed all over the brain. We got told we had to say goodbye to him, The pain was horrible and still is now. I cannot believe all the support we have had already from the community and people we don’t even know. He was such a popular boy.

“His identical twin brother Oscar and older brother Theo and sister Elsie miss him so, so much but we light a candle for him every night and blow it out and say good night to him.

“Words can’t explain how hard, stressful and emotionally difficult these past couple of months have been for us.

“Through the support of our family, friends and people we don’t even know we are getting and going to get through this.”

Friends and family set up a JustGiving page before Thomas died, initially to help pay for specialist equipment for him. The target set was £15,000. Almost £8,500 has so far been raised since the JustGiving page was set up which will now be used to help Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) and Children with Cancer Fund.

Sarah Dyer, a friend of one of Thomas’ family members, has also decided to organise a charity dog walk in Bexhill in aid of the cause. The walk is taking place on Sunday, February 26 from Galley Hill to South Cliff. People who want to take part should meet at 10am, with the event starting at 10.30am. Donation is £2 per dog. Ring Sarah on 07429 056063.

Hollie added: “Any money raised will be donated to all the charities that have helped us in this difficult time. We cannot thank everyone enough and if our story can help raise awareness and educate people on childhood cancer and recognise the good work of charities then something good has come out of this dreadful situation.”

Visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/tessa-lawson-335.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage

2) Like our Facebook page

3) Follow us on Twitter

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

Always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.