Mildura’s Thomas Watson receives generous donation from brother

A Mildura boy who has spent the majority of his life in hospital received a lifesaving gift from his brother for his ninth birthday. Read the inspiring story.

At just three-years-old Thomas Watson suffered stomach pain for more than a month before his family learnt the horrible truth - he had blood cancer.

Since 2018 the young Mildura boy has spent his childhood in and out of hospitals, rarely getting to spend a day at home with his dad and siblings.

For 10 months Thomas and his mum stayed at the Royal Children’s Hospital while he went through rounds of intensive treatment to fight the Leukemia- chemotherapy, lumbar punctures, blood transfusions, blood tests and dressing changes.

It meant he never got to enjoy his childhood or even learn how to ride a bike. Instead, he spent his days lying in bed in pain.

On Grand Final weekend in September 2018 Thomas was finally discharged from hospital, meaning he and his mum could return home.

He still needed to take medication and fly back to Melbourne for monthly treatments that could not be administered in Mildura.

Thomas’s treatment lasted for a long two-and-a-half-years and sadly caused ongoing health issues.

He couldn’t walk up the steps on his first day of school and he needed to attend ongoing occupational therapy to build up his strength and speech.

“It was a long journey to recovery, the poor kid couldn’t walk, he had speech and developmental delays,” aunt Annette Death told the Herald Sun.

In 2021 and 2022 Thomas started enjoying life.

“We were finally getting to a point where he was back at school, and just starting to do some of the physical exercise,” Ms Death said.

He had taken up swimming lessons, which he loved.

But after a routine blood test, a phone call on December 10, 2022 changed everything.

“We got the news that the cancer had come back,” Ms Death said.

Gol Gol boy Thomas Watson with his brother Jacob. Picture: Supplied

Thomas Watson was diagnosed with leukemia when he was three but has recently relapsed again. Picture: Supplied

The devastating news was that not only had the cancer returned, but there was a big tumour on his chest. Reeling with shock at the relapse, Thomas and his mum flew to Melbourne that same night.

It marked the beginning of another nine months of intensive chemotherapy and full body radiation but this time around, he also required a bone marrow transplant.

Watching Thomas suffer has not been easy for his family.

He spent Christmas, the New Year and his ninth birthday in hospital in April.

On that day his doctors allowed him to go outside to the park - the first time he had been outside since his admission.

Thomas Watson with older brother Jacob and sister Amy. Picture: Supplied

But the best gift came from his brother Jacob, who had volunteered to make the incredible sacrifice to donate some of his bone marrow to his little brother.

“His brother Jacob who is only ten years old provided the bone marrow, which meant he had to go into hospital for a couple of days,” Ms Death said.

“He had a pretty big procedure too where they inserted some really big needles into his hips.”

For a bone-marrow transplant, the immune system has to be completely depleted so the body can accept the new marrow.

This meant a period of complete isolation for both boys, who have now been in isolation for nine weeks and counting.

Ms Death said that her nephew was still fighting.

“He an absolute fighter and he’s still here with us, but it has not been a very easy couple of months,” she said.

Ms Death said that the second time around has been even more grueling for the family.

“It’s so much harder the second time around - the first time around we didn’t know what we were dealing with but this time we know what’s ahead,” she said.

“The re-diagnosis has been hard.”

Not just for Thomas, but for the entire family.

“It’s a ripple effect and that’s how I try to describe it to people - [it affects] my sister and her husband [whose] kid is at the epicenter.”

“But then my mum is stretched too - she’s been looking after the children while their dad is working and my sister is away [in Melbourne].”

“But my sister needs a break too - she’s only been home twice in the last six months, and only for a week each time.”

Thomas’s grandparents have been travelling between the hospital to support him and his mum and Mildura to support his dad and siblings.

The good news is that Thomas’ body has accepted the new marrow but the struggle isn’t over yet as the process has taken a toll on the young boy’s body.

“He’s had pneumonia, countless bouts of the flu, kidney damage, scarring on his lungs, two blood clots in his lungs, and staff infection,” she said.

Amy Watson, Jacob Watson and Thomas Watson on his birthday. Picture: Supplied

While the family is getting support from charities like the Leukemia Foundation, finances are tight.

To help ease the family’s financial burden from traveling back to and from Melbourne constantly and raising three kids on one income, the family has set-up a fundraiser.

“The GoFundMe will go towards bills, groceries and help with all the travel,” she said.

Eldest sibling Amy said the family was trying to “make the best of a devastating situation”.

“It is a long road physically, emotionally, and financially.

“This is a long journey for Thomas and my family. I am hoping you can help my family through this very difficult time to allow us to visit Thomas and mum in Melbourne, make it easier for my dad to pay bills and to travel to the RCH to have time with my brother and mum and not to worry about work. Just to be all together..”

The page can be found here.