WARNING: DISTRESSING IMAGES All little James Lewis wanted to do was be a professional boxer – but a cruel health twist has robbed him of the chance. The brave lad remains full of spirit however
James has endured a battle almost all his young life(Image: Kennedy News & Media)
Schoolboy James Lewis dreamed being a pro boxer – going to the gym from the age of five. But one morning his life – and dreams – were turned upside down.
James woke up paralysed from the waist down – and ‘fell to the floor like jelly’. The lad’s father, also called James Lewis, told how the youngster was subsequently diagnosed with an 18cm benign tumour in his spinal cord after he woke-up with no feeling in his lower body.
The 36-year-old says his son had previously been diagnosed with scoliosis, a condition where the spine twists and curves to the side. The landscaper says little James’ symptoms continued to deteriorate after his diagnosis and he began losing balance and the control of his bladder and bowel.
James had been going to the gym since he was five(Image: Kennedy News & Media)
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After being diagnosed with the tumour in 2021, James has undergone multiple surgeries and chemotherapy treatment – but doctors are unable to remove the tumour surgically because it’s ‘entwined’ with his spinal cord. As a result, the 13-year-old was forced to give up his dreams of becoming a professional boxer.
His dad says James had previously been in the boxing gym twice a week since the age of five – but had to give up the sport after the tumour caused him to lose his balance and footwork. In January 2026 James underwent his most recent surgery after he lost function of his legs, bowel and bladder.
He is currently in rehabilitation before re-starting chemotherapy treatment, but is yet to regain the feeling in his legs. A GoFundMe page has now been set up to help raise the £4,500 needed to buy James an electric wheelchair.
James’ dad – also James – backed his son’s boxing bid(Image: Kennedy News & Media)
Dad James, from Bexley, Greater London, said: “In March 2021 he woke up numb from the waist down. I was very shocked – I remember thinking how can you not feel your legs? He tried to stand up and fell to the floor like jelly. The hospital revealed he had a spinal cord tumour.
“It was horrendous – we didn’t really know what was going on but then of course we could start putting all of the pieces of the puzzle together. All the symptoms had been there because the tumour was compressing the spinal cord. It was the worst news you could ever really have.”
Scans revealed that James had a tumour half the length of his spine entwined with his spinal cord. The non-cancerous tumour had haemorrhaged and was compressing his spinal cord, which resulted in him losing the feeling in his legs.
James has had to undergo horrendous surgery(Image: Kennedy News & Media)
Dad James said: “He had decompression treatment and regained the function of his legs. He started chemo in November 2021 for 18 months but this had to be stopped in May 2022 as he woke up on his birthday shut down from the waist again.
“He went back on chemotherapy and finished it the day before his birthday the following year in May 2023. The tumour is half the length of the spinal cord so it’s quite a big tumour.”
James has had to give-up his dream of becoming a professional boxer, after losing his balance as a result of the tumour. Dad James said: “He wanted to be a professional boxer.
“He was in the boxing gym twice the week from the age of five years old which we had to stop due to him losing his proprioception and his sensation, he just completely lost his footwork. We then found fishing, which has just been truly amazing for him because it’s something that he’s been able to do – it’s the perfect hobby really.”
James has spent much of his young life in hospital(Image: Kennedy News & Media)
In 2025, James underwent four separate surgeries due to repeatedly losing the function of his legs, bowel and bladder. Dad James said: “He was declining and each surgery relieved symptoms – but only really for three or four weeks.
“We reached a point where at the end of last year he was losing function again but it was quite bad. This led to him having an operation almost four weeks ago and he’s currently in rehabilitation. We’re four weeks post op and he’s still got no function of legs and has complete loss of his bowel and bladder.”
James is now in rehabilitation from his surgery and will re-start his chemotherapy treatment once this is complete. Dad James said: “We are currently just starting an intensive rehabilitation programme that’s to last four to 12 weeks.
Brave James remains undaunted(Image: Kennedy News & Media)
“Once that’s finished, we’ll continue with the chemotherapy. He’s got another 16 months remaining. They aren’t able to remove the tumour through surgery because of the location of it.
“When they look at the tumour, the [spinal] cord isn’t visible – you just see the cord going into the tumour and coming out of the bottom. It’s been an absolute nightmare.”
A GoFundMe page has now been set up to raise the £4,500 needed to buy James an electric wheelchair. So far, £4,560 has been raised.
Dad James said: “The GoFundMe was actually started by a guy from the fishing community who wanted to raise funds to get my son an electric wheelchair. All the donations are much appreciated – it’s amazing.”
Defiant James will keep on fighting(Image: Kennedy News & Media)
To donate to James’ fundraiser, visit here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/qq2cwx-james-taylor
Scoliosis (Info from NHS)
Scoliosis is where the spine twists and curves to the side. Signs of scoliosis include a visibly curved spine, leaning to one side, uneven shoulders and clothes not fitting well.
Treatment for scoliosis depends on your age, how severe the curve is, and whether it’s likely to get worse with time. Treatments include a plastic brace, painkillers and occasionally, surgery.