10 Year Old Boy Defies Odds and Walks Again After Sudden Paralysis from Rare Tumour

Harry Goulden, a 10-year-old boy from Hampstead Garden Suburb, London, has defied medical expectations by walking again just five weeks after waking up paralysed due to a rare spinal tumour. Harry, who loves football and staying active, experienced sudden neck pain in October 2024. His mother, Dr. Miriam Fine-Goulden, recalled the moment Harry struggled to sleep due to the discomfort, but when he woke up the next day, he was unable to move his legs.

Rushing to A&E, the family received devastating news. An MRI scan revealed a walnut-sized tumour on Harry’s spine, which had caused a blood clot, leading to paralysis from the chest down. Doctors warned that Harry might “never walk again.” However, his journey to recovery was nothing short of miraculous, as reported by the Manchester Evening News.

“He was reassured when he knew what it was,” Miriam explained. “I think he felt worried when he didn’t know.” After an urgent operation at King’s College Hospital to remove the clot and part of the tumour, Harry’s prognosis remained uncertain. The tumour, though benign, was rare, with Dr Bassel Zebian, Harry’s consultant neurosurgeon, noting that such cases are seen only a handful of times in a decade.

Despite being told it would take a long time for him to regain movement, Harry’s determination and drive played a crucial role in his recovery. “Nobody expected him to recover as quickly and successfully as he has done, not the surgeon, not the neurologist, not the physiotherapists – but he did,” said Miriam.

After three and a half weeks of intense physiotherapy, followed by two more weeks of rehabilitation, Harry regained mobility. He first stood up, then progressed to walking with a frame, followed by crutches. Just five and a half weeks after being paralysed, he was walking independently.

Three months later, Harry is not only walking again but is back to playing football, a passion he thought he might never return to. “It was a slow process, but now he’s running around and playing football again, which is remarkable,” Miriam said.

Mr. Zebian expressed his delight with Harry’s rapid progress, emphasizing the rarity of the case and how swiftly Harry had recovered. “The whole neurosurgical team is delighted with the progress Harry has made in a relatively short space of time,” he said. Harry’s astonishing recovery is a testament to his resilience, and his story continues to inspire everyone who hears it.