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Little Trooper of the Month

Thomas Hawkins

March 2016

In Summer 2015 we were posted to Cyprus as a family. My husband and I, Thomas and his 2 year old brother, this was when Thomas was a normal 5 year old.

After 12 weeks off us living there Thomas started to become ill, he was back and forth from the medical centre then got admitted into hospital with pneumonia, once he was well again he was discharged. We thought this was the end off it.

Little did we know all the symptoms came back again. This time the doctors thought he had swallowed a piece off Lego or something, he was re-admitted into the hospital again. Nothing seamed to be making our little boy better. After two weeks the doctors got a specialist to come and see him, he thought it best to move him to a intensive care unit at the other side off the island. Once we was there he had a CT scan and that is when we got the terrible new that he had a mass on his windpipe. At this point we were given the choice to fly back to England or stay in Cyprus. Once we made the decision to return to the UK the Army welfare, my husband’s bosses and close friends where brilliant helping us. Just five days later the AeroMed team flew to come and pick Thomas and myself up from the hospital in Cyprus to fly us back to Oxford, here Thomas could go under care at the John Radcliff.

Once we got to the hospital in Oxford we were informed that Thomas has a tumor called myofiberblast in his windpipe, after countless tests and operations every few weeks and Chemo once a week, everything seems to be going okay for our Little Trooper. He is still a long way from being better, but the chemo is working and every day is a step on the road to recovery.

Thomas’s step father is currently serving in the British Army.

Louise Fetigan, founder of Little Troopers says “Thomas is so so brave his story truly touched our hearts, we hope this award puts a little smile on his face. Little Troopers sends all the love and strength in the world to this special family and we wish Thomas a speedy recovery”

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Thomas Hawkins

Nominate a Trooper of the month!

We want to recognise Little Troopers; children with parents serving in the British Armed Forces who have been exceptionally brave, inspirational or just extra special against all odds. 

This is an opportunity to really celebrate and shine a spotlight on the lives of incredible military children, hear the special stories and give them the recognition they really deserve.

Our monthly winner will receive a special prize, certificate and lasting recognition of a customised, unique medal. We will also shout about how amazing our winners our on our website, social media and other related publications.

Nominations welcomed from Unit Welfare Offices, Community Development Workers, Schools/Nurseries and of course YOU!

If you are not the parent or guardian of the child you are nominating you must ask permission and advise them you are nominating. We will need to contact them directly to progress a nomination if successful.

Unsuccessful nominations will not be contacted.

Please upload a recent photograph we can use for certificate and hall of fame if they win:

Eligible children: ANY child with a parent or step parent currently serving with the British Army, Royal Navy or Royal Air Force; wherever they live, reserve or regular, parents married or unmarried. Children can only win once. Please only nominate one child per nomination. Children of any age can be nominated. Please ensure all the information you submit is true and correct stating if the child is a step child/has a different father or mother to serving person.

Little Trooper of the month archive: