Brave Jordan loses battle with cancer
Sep 18 2007 by Jule Wilson, The Journal
A SCHOOLBOY and promising young footballer has lost his 19-month battle with cancer, his devastated parents said yesterday.
Jordan Thompson, 15, of West Denton underwent a bone marrow transplant after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia on Valentine’s Day 2006.
The talented sportsman, who was signed with the Newcastle United Academy, completed three months of intensive chemotherapy in May last year and was given the all-clear less than a year later.
Jordan underwent the bone marrow operation to give him the best chance of remaining healthy, but died on Saturday after contracting a massive secondary infection while recovering from surgery.
Jordan’s mother Andrea said: “He was absolutely amazing. Everybody says that about their child but I can honestly put my hand on my heart and say that every single person he ever met never had a bad word to say about him.
“Everyone is shocked and devastated because Jordan was such a fighter. He was always so fit and so strong and he just had an effect on everybody.”
Andrea said that she and Jordan’s father Dave, as well as his sister Ellis, eight, wished to thank everybody that had helped and supported them through Jordan’s illness, and the many well-wishers they have heard from since his death at the oncology unit of Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary.
Andrea added: “Our home will never ever be the same without him because Jordan just lit up this house. He was always so happy and kept us going through this.
“He loved visiting the other kids at the teenage cancer unit at the RVI where he received much of his treatment, and was always so positive.”
Jordan’s death comes just five weeks after his friend and fellow patient John Anderson, 19, lost his seven-year battle with bone cancer, and four months after 22-year-old Fliss Graham, of Gilsland died, three years after contracting Osteosarcoma.
All three young people were heavily involved in organising and filming last year’s 3 Bandstand, a charity concert which raised in excess of £50,000 for the new teenage cancer unit at the RVI, due to open in 2009. And Andrea said she felt sure the friends would look after one another.
She said: “We’ve been to visit Fliss’ grave and we asked her to take care of him, and I’m sure she will. Jordan made so many good friends at the cancer unit.”
John’s father Ian described Jordan as a brave lad and added: “He was so full of life and my thoughts are with Jordan’s family.”
And North-East film director Geoff Wonfor, who supervised Jordan on the crew at Bandstand and taught him camera work said he was one of the most talented youngsters he had come across.
He said: “Jordan had so much going for him. Within an-hour-and-a-half behind the camera you could tell he had something. He could just do it, and would have been at the top of his game as a camera man by the time he was 18. He was just magnificent.”
Newcastle United manager Sam Allardyce also paid tribute to the talented youngster. He said: “Newcastle United were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Jordan Thompson on Saturday. From what I heard about Jordan, he was a very brave lad, extremely friendly, generous and caring despite his very serious illness which ultimately cost him his life.
What’s more he was a very talented footballer and I’m told he joined us at the training ground on a number of occasions last year where he was thrilled to meet a number of his heroes. Our sincere condolences go to his family and friends at this very sad time.”
