CHRISTMAS in the Eames house this year will be a joyous affair – a world away from the ‘sheer hell’ they went through two years ago.

In December 2014, the family’s second son, Tommy, was diagnosed with a brain tumour and their world fell apart.

He was desperately ill and the family was told to prepare for the worst.

But two years down the line, Tommy is well, back at school and looking forward to Christmas.

Mum Annabel said: “We feel we went to hell and back during those very dark days.

“Now we treasure every moment we have together as a family.”

Tommy, 10, from Fontwell, near Arundel, is also celebrating receiving a Kids & Teens Star award for bravery.

The awards are given by Cancer Research UK in partnership with TK Maxx.

Those dark days began in summer 2014 when Tommy began to complain of headaches and later, back pain. Doctors initially thought it was migraine.

But in December, while playing in goal for his team, Barnham Trojans, Tommy was taken ill and had to pull out of the match. A week later, he suffered a seizure and was rushed to hospital.

Then doctors broke the devastating news to Annabel and husband Nick that Tommy had a malignant sPNET brain tumour.

He was given an emergency transfer to Southampton General Hospital but was too unstable to be operated on that evening.

The next morning surgeons began a 16-hour operation to remove the tumour.

Then came another two-day wait to see if he would come round and how the surgery would affect him.

Annabel said: “We were terrified. We couldn’t see any way out of it. But we knew Tommy was a stubborn little boy so we had to be totally focussed. We couldn’t fall apart.”

When Tommy came round, although he couldn’t speak, he was able to communicate.

Annabel said: “Once he opened his eyes I could see he was still there. It was sheer elation! It was just the tiniest smile or wink or squeeze of the hand but we knew he could understand us.”

Most of Tommy’s festive season that year was spent hooked up to drugs and machines, but on Christmas Day, he was allowed home for a few hours.

Annabel said: “It was the best feeling in the world to turn up and surprise everyone, and magical for Tommy just to be able to sit by the Christmas tree at home. But it was also terrifying and emotional to be without any nursing care.”

During the first operation, surgeons had been unable to remove the entire brain tumour, so Tommy underwent a second surgery in early January, which set him back again.

But there was worse to come. Tommy then needed to undergo 31 daily sessions of head and spinal radiotherapy which, as well as the unpleasant side effects, meant being pinned to a bed beneath a tight-fitting plastic mask and left alone for treatment.

Annabel said: “It was absolutely awful, the hardest part of the treatment.

“Day one was terrible but then we had another 30 to go. He would scream, tears would run down his face and there were times we had to pin him down.

“We tried everything – playlists, a lucky dip of 31 presents, stick-on tattoos. But to watch him being so upset day after day was the worst thing ever, totally heart-breaking.”

Following the radiotherapy, Tommy started high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell re-infusion and spent four months in isolation, apart from occasional visits home between cycles, and even then he had to be ‘wrapped in cotton wool’.

During this time Annabel also had to be separated for long periods from her other children Ben, now 14, and Sophie, now seven.

Throughout his treatment, Tommy was often sick, in pain, exhausted, unable to eat, very fragile and incredibly weak. He had to learn to walk, communicate and talk again and use the right side of his body.

But, he dealt with it and fought his way back to health.

He has some limitations – he is partially sighted and struggles with short-term memory loss and cognitive and processing functions.

But he has returned part-time to Walberton and Binstead Primary School and on holiday this year, he was able to join Ben and Sophie swimming and playing volleyball and swim with dolphins.

Annabel said: “He doesn’t moan or complain. He has worked so hard and is an inspiration to everyone who knows or meets him.

“He is able to cycle and passed his cycling proficiency test, which we are incredibly proud of.

“He probably spends too much time on the X-Box – but we let him off as it is good for his motor skills. And although he hasn’t been able to go back to being a goalie – yet – he is a huge Chelsea fan and loves to watch football.

“And of course his cheeky sense of humour is still intact!”

The family’s way of coping with the ‘horrendous trauma’ they have been through is to recognise and cling to the positives.

Annabel said: “We always were a close family, but now we are stronger.

“We look at life differently and our priorities have changed. We have made new and life-long friends.

“We had phenomenal care from the doctors and nurses at Southampton General and St Richard’s Hospitals, and the Snowdrop Nurses.

“We’re so grateful to these teams. Along with their care, prayers from family and friends all over the world, and Tommy’s sheer determination – we have him here today.

“You constantly live in fear of it coming back – every headache sends you into panic mode. But you can’t give into it or it would eat you alive.

“We don’t look too far into the future. We treasure every day. We enjoy him, enjoy being at home, enjoy being alive.”

Tommy is now in remission, off medication and returns to hospital for three-monthly check-ups and six-monthly MRI scans.

His next big step will be into senior school. But for now, the family is occupied with the little things in life – like watching Tommy enjoy a chocolate advent calendar, something he has missed out on for the last couple of years.

Annabel said: “Words fail me as to why my son had to go through this but I am beaming with happiness and pride that I am his mummy.”

Every child nominated for the Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens ‘Star’ award receives the accolade, which is backed by a host of celebrities including Olympic medallist Greg Rutherford and professional dancers Kevin and Karen Clifton.

There is no judging panel because CRUK and sponsors TK Maxx believe every child who faces cancer is extra special.

To nominate a child, donate or fundraise in support of Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens visit cruk.org/kidsandteens.