My son became temporarily paralysed at school - it changed our lives forever (2025)

He was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2022

An eight-year-old boy was diagnosed with a brain tumour after he was found temporarily paralysed in class - with his symptoms initially dismissed as a school bug.

Harry Salm, eight, from Huddersfield, started experiencing occasional vomiting, neck pain, and brief moments of imbalance when he was five, but doctors dismissed his symptoms for a school bug, according to Harry's parents.

Then in February 2022, a teacher at school found Harry "temporarily paralysed" after sitting in the reading corner. Harry was rushed to A&E and after multiple hospital transfers, a CT scan later revealed the "devastating" news that he had a brain tumour.

He was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, which is a high-grade cancerous tumour that starts near your brainstem in your cerebellum and is more common in children than adults.

Harry underwent a 13-hour emergency surgery that saw the 4cm growth successfully removed. But now the eight-year-old faces a second battle with post-op complications and treatments.

His mum, Vicki, 40, will be taking on the Sahara trek challenge this March to raise vital funds for Brain Tumour Research.

Vicki, social care manager at a housing provider, said: "This experience has changed our lives forever. Harry was just five when his teacher phoned, saying he had sat down in the reading corner and suddenly couldn’t move.

"It was terrifying, as I was recovering from a C-section, so my husband, Andy, rushed to pick him up. By the time he arrived, Harry seemed fine again, but we knew something wasn’t right."

Vicki had recently had a new baby, Millie, and was recovering when Harry was suddenly found temporarily paralysed.

She continued: "Andy took him to A&E and after multiple dismissals of his symptoms and hospital transfers, a doctor finally ordered a CT scan with devastating results.

“Andy had to hear those words alone and then call me to break the news before a friend rushed me to the hospital with newborn Millie in my arms.

"Our world turned upside down in an instant. We made the decision for Harry to have surgery, and eight hours later, we watched them wheel our little boy into the theatre."

During Harry's 13-hour surgery, neurosurgeons removed a 4cm tumour, which was the size of a walnut. Following surgery, Harry underwent 31 rounds of proton beam therapy in Germany, and several months of chemotherapy at Leeds Children’s Hospital.

Vicki said: “Chemotherapy was incredibly hard for Harry. Sickness was a major challenge [and] at one point, his body wasn’t responding to medication as expected, and uncontrollable vomiting left doctors confused.

"He was frequently admitted to hospital, and discussions began about feeding via the bloodstream or PEG feeds, as he couldn’t tolerate water or food.

“A clinical pharmacist eventually discovered that his crushed tablets weren’t being properly absorbed through his feeding tube. Once that was corrected, his condition improved. I couldn’t be more grateful to that pharmacist."

The cancer has kept away, but now the Harry faces a second battle with post-op complications and treatments. He developed posterior fossa syndrome, which is a neurological condition which affected his abilities to walk, talk, and swallow.

Harry faced months of recovery with hospital staff to relearn these skills but his mum said that "he never lost his sense of humour or imagination".

She said: “Harry endured so much: sickness, weakness, and constant hospital stays. He called his tumour 'the goblin' and told us he was fighting it like a superhero.

"That strength carried us all through the darkest days."

As Harry continues his recovery, Vicki will be taking on the six-day Sahara Trek challenge to raise vital funds for Brain Tumour Research. She will begin the 50km walk on March 27, 2025 - and will be joined by 15 others who share similar experiences with their loved ones.

It will test participants with extreme heat, towering sand dunes, and long, gruelling days without beds or running water.

Vicki said: "No child should have to go through what he has. That’s why I am taking on this challenge – to raise funds for life-saving research. Brain tumour treatments have remained largely unchanged for decades, and they were never designed for children.

"We need more funding, more awareness, and more action. I am doing this for Harry and for all the families who are facing this battle.”

Carol Robertson, National Events Manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: "We are incredibly grateful to Vicki for taking on this gruelling challenge to help raise vital funds and awareness. Her strength and determination, inspired by Harry’s bravery, are truly inspiring.

"Brain tumours are indiscriminate; they can affect anyone at any age. Tragically, they kill more children and adults under 40 than any other cancer, yet research into this disease remains severely underfunded.

"With the support of fundraisers like Vicki, we can push for the investment needed to improve treatments and, ultimately, find a cure."

To support Vicki visit here.