Louis

Louis was born a healthy baby on 6^th September 2001. But, 18 months later, he started having headaches, a bloody nose, swollen eye and upset stomach.

After Lisa, Louis’ mum, took Louis to see an Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) doctor, scans revealed a primary tumour on his adrenal gland and another tumour in his nasal cavity. Louis was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma.

The tumour in his nasal cavity crushed his optic nerve, leaving him permanently blind and the toxic side effects of treatment also left Louis partially deaf too.

Louis bravely opened up to Solving Kids’ Cancer UK when we met him in 2023 and we learnt that, despite having difficulties as a result of neuroblastoma, this incredible young man has not let this prevent him from pursuing his passion for music.

In September 2004, Louis started local mainstream primary school. He was the school’s first blind pupil and he absolutely thrived.

He started showing an interest in books and music, especially drumming. He had full access to the national curriculum and reached the same targets of sighted pupils.

In September 2007, Louis started weekly drumming lessons and his natural talent for music and rhythm shone through. A year later, he was given his first keyboard by an uncle and he took to it quickly.

“He did everything that sighted people did”, says mum, Lisa. “He was a daredevil who was fantastic at climbing, whizzing up climbing walls, but not so good at rollerskating! He loved audio books and couldn’t get enough of them. It felt like Steven Fry, who narrated Paddington and all the Harry Potter books, lived with us given how much those audiobooks were played!”

In September 2013, Louis joined a private mainstream secondary school who had never had a visually impaired student. Louis again thrived there.

He passed all his GCSEs and gained 3 A Levels while he attended 6^th Form with Kizzy, his guide dog. It was during this time that Louis discovered a love for music production and mixing, and he attended Leeds College of Music Saturday School for two years.

In September 2020, Louis began studying at university and achieved a 2:1 in Music Production.

Louis is a member of Unity - The After Cure Choir, a choir for survivors of childhood, teenage and young adults cancer and other conditions funded by Leeds Hospitals Charity, and he loves going to live concerts, with his all-time favourite being Elton John’s Farewell yellow brick road tour in Leeds.

Since Solving Kids’ Cancer UK got to know Louis, he gave an absolutely breathtaking performance at the Solving Kids’ Cancer UK Christmas Carol Concert in 2023, performing alongside fellow blind musician, Sirine Jahangir.

“Louis’ story is one of hope for so many young people and their families”, says Hayley, Family Support Coordinator at Solving Kids’ Cancer UK. “I’m inspired to hear of his successes and feel privileged that he has chosen to share his story with us at Solving Kids’ Cancer UK. It’s so important to highlight that there is a good life to be lived post-treatment for neuroblastoma.”

Louis is an incredible young man, and everyone at Solving Kids’ Cancer UK has been inspired and uplifted by his story. We feel so fortunate to know him and be able to share his story; one that shows both the need for improvements in treatment to prevent long-term side effects like those that Louis has encountered, but also how it is possible to still live life to the full despite those challenges.

“There’s two ways to look at my story”, says Louis. “Firstly, there’s the fact I underwent all this treatment, and I was left totally blind and partly deaf. That, undeniably, is tough and comes with many physical and psychological challenges. But, on the other hand, if I didn’t go through all that, I wouldn’t be who I am today.