Child of Courage nominee – Henri Brammer

Child of Courage nominee – Henri Brammer

Henri Brammer has endured three lots of brain surgery after developing a virus that caused fluid to gather on his brain.

Less than a year later the nine-year-old is back playing football for two different teams and has raised nearly £20,000 for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital to say thank-you for saving his life.

Henri, from Lightwood, has been nominated as a Child of Courage by one of his football coaches, Martyn Irvine.

Martyn said: “Nothing and I mean nothing fazes Henri and I am in awe of him each and every day. He is a child with the heart of a lion and more, a true child of courage.

“He returned to training non-contact a couple of months after the brain surgery and not too long after was cleared to play fully again.

“He is now playing for two teams, is on a mission to raise funds for Alder Hey Hospital and has raised an incredible amount already.”

It was just before Christmas 2022 that Henri became ill and doctors discovered he had a Strep A infection in his brain.

He had three brain surgeries which included an incision across the top of his head from ear to ear.

“They had to hold back the skin on the top of Henri’s head and take part of his skull out to operate,” said his dad, Andy Brammer. “But he has never once complained. The nurses were amazed by him. He’s been an inspiration to everyone.

“He was so desperate to play football that we took a football onto the ward to him and he was juggling it around. He had a five-hour brain operation and just an hour later he was asking if he could have a McDonald’s.

“He’s now back to full fitness. If you couldn’t see the obvious scar on the top of his head you wouldn’t realise anything was ever wrong with him.”

Henri now plays football for Blurton Reds Athletic and PCT Reds and has football training three times each week.

The family, which also includes Henri’s mum Carly, sister Daisie, 13, and brother Eddie, three, have been raising money for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital through pool competitions, fun days and raffles.

They plan to deliver the final amount they raise to the hospital on December 20, to mark the one-year anniversary of Henri’s life being saved.

Andy added: “A lot of people raise money in memory of a loved one. We’re raising money to say how lucky we feel.”