Doctors feared that Gosforth youngster Freddie Mann may never walk again after he was diagnosed with a brain tumour at just 11 months old.
The tumour continued to grow quickly and, at the age of one, Freddie underwent surgery to remove 90% of it as doctors feared that taking it all out would have left the brave boy paralysed on his left side. It was unclear whether Freddie would recover or ever walk again after going under the knife, but he went on to amaze medics and his family to become an active young lad who plays football, swims and even does karate.
Despite his amazing physical recovery, Freddie, now 12, has been left with long-term speech and communication difficulties. Freddie was diagnosed with a mild acquired language disorder linked to the remaining tumour in 2019 and also struggles with his memory.
