Soul musician Kenny Thomas, renowned for his impactful 90s hits, has bravely opened up about his daughter Christina’s profound battle with brain cancer, a deeply personal struggle that has powerfully shaped his upcoming album, “Unstoppable,” marking his first release in 15 years.

The harrowing journey began in February 2017 when Christina, then merely four years old, received the devastating diagnosis of an incurable and inoperable mid-brain glioma. Doctors delivered a grim prognosis, stating unequivocally that she was unlikely to survive the year.

The initial signs emerged in late October 2016, following a family day on the trampoline, when Kenny and his wife Francisca noticed an unusual limp in Christina’s right leg, a subtle symptom that quickly escalated, prompting medical consultation that hinted at a neurological issue.

As her condition progressed, Christina exhibited a weakening right hand, a more pronounced limp, slurred speech, and difficulty closing her right eye, culminating in a confirmed brain cancer diagnosis that left her parents utterly devastated, feeling their world had collapsed.

In 2017, the family was presented with limited options: palliative care or chemotherapy to potentially control the disease’s progression, but no cure. Despite the bleak outlook, Christina defied the initial six-month survival prediction, prompting Kenny to reflect, “The six months that they said she had came and went, a year came and went, and a year-and-a-half went, and we just carried on with our battle.”

Driven by unwavering hope, the family continued their tireless fight. While initially hesitant to pursue an invasive biopsy in 2017, they consented to a tumor biopsy at Great Ormond Street Hospital in 2023, a pivotal decision that unveiled the specific nature of Christina’s illness: a diffuse leptomeningeal glioneuronal tumor, an uncommon central nervous system tumor primarily affecting children.

This diagnosis was particularly significant as this specific tumor type was only recognized as a distinct condition in 2016, just a year before Christina’s initial diagnosis, explaining why doctors initially gave a more general assessment. Crucially, recent medical breakthroughs now offer a targeted cancer therapy, larotrectinib, a treatment unavailable eight years prior.

Now 12, Christina attends a specialist high school tailored to her complex needs, which impact her mobility and cognitive abilities. Her ongoing battle underscores the family’s incredible fortitude, a journey that Kenny succinctly describes: “The battle’s ongoing… we haven’t won and we haven’t lost.”

Kenny Thomas’s upcoming album, “Unstoppable,” directly mirrors this resilient spirit. Its title serves as a powerful testament to the family’s enduring drive and fortitude. The album is scheduled for release on Friday, August 8, followed by a UK tour in March 2026, with performances in Gateshead, London, Southend, and Birmingham.