Tomas’ journey of triumph over adversity

By Alison Scotti

Nineteen years ago, our son, Tomas, made his appearance, screaming. “It’s a boy and he’s perfect!” was the announcement. It was an indescribable feeling for my husband and I emerging from the room as a family of three.

Over the next few days, we struggled with feeding, but the nurses kept telling me he was doing fine. We were worried but trusted our medical team.

On day four, during the newborn screening tests, Tomas’ eyes seemed fixated in the right direction. When the nurse unwrapped him, his body was stiff. She called a doctor and said my husband should come to the hospital.

After countless tests, we received the news. A CT scan had revealed a large bleed, a right sided infarct. We were told he may not walk or talk.

We were devastated but made a strong commitment to do whatever we could for our baby. Physiotherapy, baby links groups, occupational therapy, psychology, speech therapy, tutoring, you name it, we did it. Every outing, every toy, was a teaching moment or some kind of therapy.

Tomas started daycare at 18 months of age. We felt the modeling of other children would support him in his development. He was slower to develop but he watched as other children crawled, walked, climbed, and played. He would often observe from afar, and when no one was watching, he would give it a go.

When Tomas started school, we wanted him to experience everything that engaging in team sports offered, so we registered him at our local soccer club. While enjoyment of the game was a slow burn, he is now so passionate and relies heavily on the relationships built with his team. He tried out for the NSW Para football training squad at 11 years old and now is part of the Australian Pararoos train on squad.

Tomas is now 19 years old and continues to manage the effects of his stroke, including left hemiplegia, vision impairment, and epilepsy. He is an incredible young man, empathetic and kind, with a resilience and determination we couldn’t be prouder of. Last year, he finished school, and he's now working at a landscaping company.

I remember the words of our kind pediatrician who said, “You will hear the worst, the prognosis may be bleak, but he will surprise you!” These words ring true every day.

The strength, resilience, and determination of our son is contagious. While I wish his life was easier for him, he is who he is because of the journey he has traveled, and I look forward to continuing to share in all his successes in the future.