Young boy from Cornwall to get surf therapy after brain tumour recovery

The Driftwood Spars pub in St Agnes has raised a year of cash for children to join The Wave Project

Seb Crosby-Moore
Author: Megan PricePublished 19th Dec 2022

A young boy in Cornwall will be getting surf therapy after experiencing a brain tumour just over three years old.

Seb Crosby-Moore, 8, is from Porthtowan and from the support of residents from St Agnes, he'll be joining The Wave Project in the spring to help with further therapy during his recovery.

The Driftwood Spars pub in the village has donated a year's worth of cash to the surf therapy charity The Wave Project, which will allow Seb and some other children to get mental and physical support.

"He'd forgotten how to do everything"

Abby Crosby, Seb's mum, told us: "Seb ran into brain surgery, but came out in a full support bed, not moving, not talking, not even able to swallow. Ultimately from day one we had to retrain Seb to learn those pathways again.

"Four years later or five years later almost, we still do intense therapy with Seb because like with any brain injury, you have to really really push the brain and do loads of activities. With kids you've got to make sure it's fun".

Seb Crosby-Moore was first diagnosed with a brain tumour at three years old.

Following his diagnosis, his treatment involved brain surgery in Bristol, then radio therapy for six weeks and eight months of chemotherapy.

Abby said: "I think a lot of people don't appreciate what a diagnosis like that means. You realise the enormity and the complexity of the treatment of these kinds of conditions.

"It really does turn your life upside down"

Now getting support from The Wave Project, which will start in the Spring, Seb and other children in need will be referred to get surf therapy from the support of the local village who've raised ÂŁ1.5k to the cause.

Abby told us she thinks The Wave Project has come at the right time for Seb and the family: "The sea is a really big part of our lives. For the last four and a half years, the sea has actually been a bit of a barrier".

She hopes sharing Seb's story will bring some comfort to other local families going through difficult times.

"Seb has done really well over the last five years and I know that The Wave Project is that next step to ensure that he continues to thrive into the future and come out the other side of some really serious trauma and live his life to the best".

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