A professional golfer whose career was put on hold by a devastating diagnosis of leukaemia is taking part in the British Transplant Games to raise awareness of the importance of stem cell donation.
Jonathan Thomson, 30, of Rotherham, underwent treatment at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust after the gut-wrenching news in 2024 that leukaemia, which he had first been treated for as a 7 year-old child, had returned in an even more aggressive form.
After successful but gruelling treatment, including a stem cell transplant, his cancer went into remission and he started the long path to recovery. With the British Transplant Games in Sheffield this year, and the golf taking place at Hillsborough Golf Club, Jonathan will take part alongside other stem cell and organ transplant recipients to raise awareness of the life-changing effects of a transplant and the need for donors.
Jonathan, known as 'Jigger', harboured childhood dreams of being a golfer and that ambition helped to keep him going throughout his treatment as a child. That dream became a reality when he turned pro in 2016 and competed on the European Tour. Among his achievements was the fulfilment of a lifelong ambition of qualifying for The Open in 2021, made even more special when he scored a remarkable hole-in-one to make the cut.
He married his wife in 2022 and two years later they had their daughter Susie. But just a matter of weeks later, Jonanthan felt something wasn't right and was suffering with constant fatigue. A blood test revealed that he had relapsed.
Jonathan said: "It was crushing because 20 years on from having it as a child, I had sort of told myself that that side of things had passed. Our little girl was one, it was absolutely heartbreaking for me and my wife and the whole family. And of course, my career came to a grinding halt. It did feel like our world was falling apart."
Jonathan had a rare and aggressive type of mixed-phenotype leukaemia, which was a combination of acute myeloid and acute lymphoblastic. He commenced on an aggressive course of treatment to effectively rebuild his immune system from scratch.
"I had to face it head on - there was no other choice. Whatever is thrown at you, you have to go with it. I had a treatment plan which is effectively the strongest you can get. I had ten rounds of total body irradiation (TBI), my immune system was completely obliterated and then thankfully I was able to have a stem cell transplant."
From that point, he commenced on the long road to recovery and a return to fitness.
"In a way, it is the aftercare that is the hardest part. It's been a journey and it's still a journey. Even if everything goes to plan you are still looking at two years to get back to full health. I was helped by the fact that my fitness was really high when I was diagnosed, and that helped me to withstand the treatment. There were periods of time when I couldn't even see Susie because my immune system was so vulnerable. You can face-time, but it is not the same as having a cuddle with your little girl. It really starts with small steps - being able to talk again, being able to walk around your little ten-foot room. Then there is the emotional and psychological side to deal with.
"But the treatment I have had has been mind-blowing. We are so lucky to have this level of expertise and skill here."
Jonathan's stem cell donor came from Germany and he has been in touch with them via letter.
"I am so grateful for it and at some point I would like the opportunity to meet them. It really is an incredible thing - it is effectively like donating blood and you can save somebody's life. I really want to spread the word about what an easy thing it is to do."
Jonathan is now hoping to be able to rebuild his golf career.
"I do think I can get back, but it is a case of taking it day by day. If I can add one percent, and one percent, then it adds up. It motivates me every day. If it doesn't happen then I am at peace with that, but I will give it my best shot. That is how I want to live life."
In the Transplant Games, he will be taking part alongside others who are amateurs or beginners.
"I've actually got really strong connections with Hillsborough. My wife's dad's been a member there for 25 years. My dad actually worked there for a numer of years. So it's really nice that I can promote the day. I'm not in it compete as such. I want others to be there to compete. But hopefully it might be nice for others to play with me. I'm there to spread the word about the games and about transplantation and donation."
