When 20-year-old university student Thomas Deakin experienced an unexpected seizure in April 2026, hospital investigations identified a lesion in an area of his brain involved in language.

Thomas was referred through his NHS care team at Barts Health for further assessment and surgery at the Royal London Hospital. Because of the lesion’s position close to areas responsible for speech and language, his surgical team planned a partially awake craniotomy.

As part of the pre-operative planning process, Thomas attended the Queen Square Imaging Centre for a functional MRI scan.

Planning surgery around vital brain functions

Functional MRI, often abbreviated to fMRI, is a specialist form of MRI that can help identify areas of the brain involved in particular functions, such as speech, language and movement.

During an fMRI examination, the patient is asked to complete carefully designed tasks while images of the brain are acquired. The resulting information can help the treating clinical team understand how important functional areas relate to the part of the brain being considered for surgery.

For Thomas, the scan formed one part of the detailed planning undertaken before his awake craniotomy.

Thomas and his mother, Elaine, remember the appointment as taking place during an understandably difficult and uncertain period.

Elaine later wrote to the Queen Square team:

“Staff were incredibly kind to Thomas and myself as we were having a very wobbly low day. You went above and beyond and have our heartfelt thanks for your care.”

Her message was particularly meaningful to the team. Imaging staff frequently meet patients during the investigation and planning stages of treatment but do not always have the opportunity to learn what happened afterwards.

A successful operation

Thomas underwent surgery at the Royal London Hospital in May 2026. Because the lesion was situated in a functionally important area of his brain, he was awake for part of the operation. This allowed the surgical team to monitor functions including his speech while the lesion was removed.

Nine days after the operation, Thomas learned that the lesion was not a tumour. It was a cavernoma: a cluster of abnormal blood vessels that can sometimes bleed or cause symptoms such as seizures.

The cavernoma had been successfully removed and Thomas was given a positive prognosis. Although his recovery initially involved significant tiredness and adjustment, he was soon able to return to London, reconnect with friends and begin looking ahead to his second year at university.

Resilience and a new perspective

Thomas subsequently wrote about his experience for Roar News, the student newspaper at King’s College London.

In his article, he reflects candidly on the anxiety surrounding the diagnosis and surgery, the importance of support from family and friends, and the lessons he has taken from the experience.

He describes developing a renewed appreciation of resilience and self-care, and recognising that protecting his physical and mental health must take priority as he returns to university life.

Reflecting on the moment he was told during surgery that the cavernoma had been removed, Thomas recalled saying:

“I can live my life again.”

His story is a powerful reminder that every imaging appointment forms part of a much wider personal and clinical journey. We are grateful to Thomas and Elaine for getting back in touch, and delighted to learn that his treatment was successful and that he is continuing to recover well.

About functional MRI at Queen Square

The Queen Square Imaging Centre provides specialist functional MRI examinations for patients undergoing assessment and treatment at leading neuroscience centres.

Functional MRI may be used as part of pre-operative planning when a lesion is located close to areas of the brain involved in speech, language, movement or other important functions. The examination is performed in collaboration with the patient’s referring clinical and surgical teams, who use the findings alongside other clinical and imaging information when planning treatment.

Every patient’s circumstances are different. The decision about whether functional MRI is appropriate is made by the treating clinical team.