Think Insurance Are Backing Swim For Tommy

Think Insurance are helping Tommy, a local boy who had previously contracted the B strain of Meningococcal Meningitis and Septicaemia, by supporting ‘Swim for Tommy’, an event in aid of raising money to put towards his prosthetic legs and aftercare, and we want to help raise awareness and donations.

Tommy’s Story

As a company, we are always keen to support local charities and good causes, and recently a situation that is a little closer-to-home came to light involving a little boy called Tommy. Tommy Brown was living a life of joy and wonder that any normal 5 month old would, until the morning of Thursday 8th March 2012 where he woke at 5am with feverish symptoms - the events that unfolded next happened shockingly fast. By 8am Tommy had developed a purple blotchy rash on his body. His mother rushed him straight to the GP who took one look at Tommy and gave the devastating news that he needed an ambulance right away – he had been diagnosed with the B strain of Meningococcal Meningitis and Septicaemia.

Tommy was immediately taken by ambulance to the Accident and Emergency department at Walsall Manor Infirmary where medical staff spent several hours trying to stabilise him. In that time, Tommy’s heart had stopped beating and he had to be revived. He was moved to Leicester only to be transferred again because his kidneys had shut down. Tommy had begun to turn black and was now at 3 times his normal size.

His distraught parents were told of the devastating news that he was going to lose all four of his limbs and that he had only been given a 5% chance of survival. He was then christened and underwent a procedure that would see some of the pressure relieved from his limbs.

On March the 22nd, only 14 days after his initial symptoms, little Tommy had a major operation to remove both of his legs below the knee, his right hand, and all of the fingers on his left hand. This was later followed by a further operation to remove Tommy’s right knee as it was not healing correctly.

Tommy is certainly a fighter! Doctors said that is was a miracle he survived and without any brain damage. It was also said that they had never known a child so poorly survive so many amputations at his age.

Donations Needed

Swim for Tommy will take place on Saturday the 24th of September 2016, with the aim of raising £1,000 to help towards the costs of Tommy’s prosthetic legs and his aftercare. It will be hosted at Cheslyn Hay Leisure Centre and the idea will be to swim a total of 21 miles in relay, which is equivalent to the length of the English Channel. Any donations would be greatly appreciated and can be made through their JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/swimfortommy.

Swimmers Needed

If there is anyone that would like to contribute further, then we would love to have you swimming in the relay. If you would like to volunteer to be a swimmer, or would like any further information, then please email craigduhamel@yahoo.com.