Chris Todd,Torquay United and Newport County footballer.......and Leukaemia Survivor.

Standard practice for a pre-match interview is to pick a subject who is sure to play. The best-case scenario for Chris Todd is that he will be among the substitutes when Torquay United face Coventry City in the FA Cup fourth round tomorrow — but that is exactly the point. Todd might be on the bench, ten weeks after having cancer diagnosed.


"A groin operation in Leicester last October had gone well and Todd’s injury was repaired. Just one small thing — a nurse noticed that he bled heavily when a needle was removed from his arm. Probably worth having a blood test to check everything was as it should be.

Oh, come on. A tough lower-league centre half such as Todd? Readiness to shed blood is part of the job description. “I’m OK, feeling fine, why should I?” he reasoned. But the nurse’s comment nagged away. A few days later, not quite sure why he was bothering, he went along to have that blood test. That was a Monday morning in mid-November. He got the results that evening. Swift service.

They told him he had chronic myeloid leukaemia. Bang: Chris Todd, 27, your life has changed for ever. And so began the quest to return to a healthy existence that he did not realise he had lost, so secretly was his body conspiring against him."

(Source:The Times Online)

This is a great story with a happy ending. Chris Todd was a young guy with a promising football career ahead of him, then in November 2008 he was diagnosed with Leukaemia. In this video Chris explains what happened next.......

http://video.aol.co.uk/video-detail/todds-leukaemia-battle/20555757


For a lot of people who are diagnosed with this illness the thought of what will happen to them is a worrying thought, but for Chris,who's career relies upon his physical fitness, the issues about his health could mean much more than to many.....

To read more about Chris's story,click HERE to go to the Times Online Website.

Could you Buy a Wristband or Bracelet and help Vicki's family ?

Could you spare a couple of quid after Christmas to help a family who's daughter is fighting Leukaemia ?
Fancy an Ultra Trendy Wristband...or maybe you know someone who might !.

Click HERE to visit Vicki's dads blog and have a read of how Leukaemia has affected this family for several months, then marvel at the amazing way they have coped with the situation they find themselves in.

Imagine if it were your child fighting this disease, wouldn't you be glad to know that complete strangers could help you out by contributing a few quid to help you along ? Come on, in the spirit of Christmas, give a little,help a lot :-)

Thanks :-)

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Drug apartheid hits victims of leukaemia in England (daily Mail Online)

Leukaemia sufferers in England will be denied potentially life-saving drugs freely available in Scotland.


The proposal to ban English patients from getting the medication on the NHS has been branded 'stupid and heartless'.
Doctors and campaigners say the Government rationing body's measures will worsen the postcode lottery, with patients north of the border able to get dasatinib and nilotinib that could add years to their lives.

The preliminary guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence affects patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia.


Although the drugs cost £30,000 a year, only a maximum of 300 patients a year are likely to need them.

They have failed to respond to treatment with another drug, called Glivec, or become resistant to it.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1235589/Drug-apartheid-hits-victims-leukaemia-England.html#ixzz0aFrwPuV4








Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1235589/Drug-apartheid-hits-victims-leukaemia-England.html#ixzz0aFred1Vq

'Our son had undiagnosed leukaemia for six weeks before he died. We were told to relax'

A HEARTBROKEN couple last night claimed Ireland's healthcare system failed them after their three-month-old son died from acute leukaemia after being treated for colic and constipation for six weeks.

This is another tragic story telling of the heartbreaking loss of a child through undiagnosed Leukaemia.


To read this story in full click HERE to go to the Independant.ie website.

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Had a nice chat to the chap from the BBC the other day......eventually !

A gentleman named Guy works for the BBC "Look North" program and is based up in sunny Hull. We managed to get to talk to each other after a comedy attempt to establish some sort of communications proved to be a problem!.
At work in the hospital we have these gadgets called "Vocera" which are (apparently!) supposed to be the dogs do-da's of personal,local communication.Sadly, unlike that varnish that "does exactly as it says on the tin"....Vocera often does not, and the extended attempt to speak to Guy was therefore rather an involved process.
switching to my backup communicator (my mobile) was little better, and we spent the next few mins speaking,leaving answerphone messages,listening to answerphone messages...etc, until eventually (eureeka!), we managed to get to speak with some semblance of continuity.Sadly, in the lottery of who got to pay for the call,i lost, and so,with very little credit on my phone, the conversation was only a few Min's long before the inevitable "beep,beep" warning me of impending cut off (ooeeerr!).
Anyway, if you are reading this post Guy, can I just say thanks for the chat, and if you are able in any way to promote any future events that I get myself caught up in (usually of my own doing!), you will be doing us a great service in raising either money or awareness (or both!) for Leukaemia issues.

In other news (I love saying that!)

Ann,Joel's mum, called me today to say that she had received a letter from the National Blood Service telling her that from this year the 23rd July (the anniversary of the first Anthony Nolan bash at Newark Hospital) will become an annual date for all NHS hospitals to organise Bone Marrow Donor Recruitment Sessions.This of course is absolutely fantastic news, and I am sure that Little Joel must be well proud of his mums courage,commitment and dedication in getting this established.Well done Ann :-).

Some more good news today was that I was made aware of one small bonus of suffering from Leukaemia....you can now get FREE prescriptions from the NHS!. Who says that it's not true that all grey clouds have a silver lining ? :-)

Andy
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Health care was first rate. A story of excellent treatment.

This is an article written by Julie Marchant who was treated for her AML recently and decided to give credit to the people who helped her through it.

In November 2008, I developed a rash and had been experiencing very high temperatures. I visited two GP's who both diagnosed a hives-like condition. One prescribed me antihistamines and steroids, the other antihistamines and made a referral for me to see a dermatologist. I then saw my own GP, Dr Robert Wicks, still feeling very unwell, but the rash was masked by the steroids I was taking. He prescribed me antibiotics for my presenting infections.

In December 2008, I visited my GP again presenting with this awful rash

h and my health had deteriorated. I was promptly admitted by him to the Medical Assessment Unit (MAU) for further investigations. I would like to thank him for that, as his swift actions undoubtedly helped to save my life. I would also like to thank him for his visit to me on Christmas Day I have little recollection of my time in MAU but I do remember a very kind lady whispering in my ear, "We are taking you downstairs to look after you". This lady, I was soon to learn, was Sharon, a member of a true professional team at the Pevensey ward.
I was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia with accompanying Sweets Syndrome. I was then to learn Sweets Syndrome is a very rare condition and occasionally accompanies certain malignancies and certainly not an easy rash to diagnose at face value.
I pondered over this diagnosis as I learnt Acute Myeloid Leukaemia can kill within months or weeks if left untreated. The feelings I experienced were uncertainty, insecurity and extreme vulnerability, but I needn't have worried, because my eyes were about to be opened to what really goes on in the DGH and that is not just a few isolated cases of C.diff or MRSA.
I was admitted to the Pevensey ward where my chemotherapy began very quickly. I consider myself to be privileged to have been treated and looked after by the kindest, most dedicated team of professionals for the past six months.
I have now finished my treatment and would like to thank Dr Grace my consultant, a truly honest, popular, humorous dedicated doctor, with boundless energy, who has my highest respect and that of many others deservedly.
Sister Janice Talent played a huge part in my treatment. She is an amazing nurse, who never sits still and no task, however menial, is beyond her – a true team player and a meticulous professional. You have talent Jan and are a huge asset to your team and any patient that is looked after by you is truly honoured.
Thank you to the other nurses. A special thank you goes to Gilbert who has pampered me throughout my endless stays on the ward. Thank you to Mick, Gilbert's colleague, you have been truly kind.
I am now in complete remission and I feel totally secure in the knowledge that should my leukaemia return, that I will be given the very best of care and treatment available, by our very own local ward, the Pevensey ward. You are truly the best!

Julie Marchant
Bembridge R