10-year-old told he ‘wouldn’t walk again’ after struggling to sleep returns to football pitch

10-Year-Old Told He ‘Wouldn’t Walk Again’ Returns to Football Pitch

After a shocking health crisis, young Harry Goulden defies the odds and returns to playing football

Sports

Harry Goulden, Hampstead Garden, London, Football, Tumour, Recovery

London: A family’s life changed dramatically when 10-year-old Harry Goulden faced a sudden health scare. What started as neck pain turned into something much more serious—paralysis. But here’s the incredible part: he’s back on the football pitch!

It all began last October when Harry and his twin brother, Jesse, were playing football. Harry felt a sharp pain in his neck and had to skip practice. That night, he struggled to sleep due to the discomfort, as his mum, Dr. Miriam Fine-Goulden, later shared.

When he woke up, he couldn’t move his legs at all. His mum rushed him to Evelina London Children’s Hospital, where an MRI revealed a rare tumour on his spinal cord. It was a tough diagnosis, but the doctors were hopeful.

Harry was diagnosed with a Diffuse Leptomeningeal Glioneuronal Tumour, a condition that’s only been seen a handful of times in the last decade. Thankfully, many kids with this diagnosis go on to survive for years.

The tumour was the size of a walnut and had formed a blood clot that affected his movement. Doctors warned his mum that he might never walk again. But Harry had other plans. Once he learned it was a tumour, he was determined to overcome it.

His mum, who works in pediatric intensive care, was amazed at how quickly he bounced back. After surgery to remove the blood clot and part of the tumour, he started physiotherapy. Just five weeks later, he was back on his feet and even playing sports again!

Now, four months later, Harry is running around the football pitch like nothing ever happened. His mum credits the fantastic medical team and Harry’s own determination for his remarkable recovery. She said he never complained and kept smiling through it all.

Image Credits and Reference: https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/health/10-year-old-told-wouldnt-9864590