My Leukaemia Story - Part 1

My story begins back in July of 2007. I was 12 years old, fit and healthy just like any other child. I was doing exams at school when I started getting headaches, and my vision became blurred. When I looked in the mirror, I noticed that the pupil in my left eye had enlarged to about three times its normal size. My parents were concerned, so instantly took me to see the on-call doctor at my local hospital.
My eyes were tested and worked fine, the doctor also said there were no clues to show my brain had any complications. He said he wanted me to stay on a ward for a few days so that they could find out why my eye had reacted in such a way.
Whilst I was staying on the ward, my eye was back to normal, no problems at all. However, I couldn't stop coughing, having multiple coughing fits and getting very wheezy. The doctors knew something was wrong with my chest, so sent me for a fairly routine chest X-ray.
The results came back, however I never saw them for myself, my parents saw the results and insisted that I didn't see. I was told that I needed to have a CT scan of my torso, as there was a "widening" of my wind-pipe in my lungs.
Unsure about quite what that meant, I went for the CT scan and eagerly awaited the results.
When the time came, my parents were called away into a seperate room by a doctor. I was again unsure about what this meant. A nurse came into the ward and showed me into the room where my parents were sitting with a doctor. I could see their emotional faces, and instantly recognised that something was wrong.
I was told to sit down and then the doctor told me. The CT scan had revealed a mass (tumour) in my chest. They believed it to be a Lymphoma, and said that I was to be rushed to Great Ormond Street Hospital in an ambulance urgently.
I cant remember any more of what happened at that hospital on that day, only that I went completely numb, physically and emotionally. That was the news that shook my world, turned it upside down.
It was the fastest trip to London I'd ever had... would give the Hitachi train a run for its money any day. We arrived at Great Ormond Street promptly, but what happened there is the next chapter to my story. I'll save that for next time.

I hope you enjoyed what you have read so far.
But the best is yet to come.
Andrew
:)

Hi, I'm Andrew "Andyman3001" Wicks, and yes, that sexy young man in the panda hat is me.
On 12th July 2007 I was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, and I have been recieving treatment for it ever since.

Recently, I started intensive chemotherapy again, as on the 5th March 2010, I was delivered the unfortunate news that the Leukaemia had relapsed.

I am lucky to say that I am surrounded by not only the best medical support possible (orchestrated by Great Ormond Street Hospital), but the most supportive set of friends and family you could wish for.

It is because of those friends and family I am writing this blog. Now, at the age of 15, I decided to use this blog to write a detailed story of the events that occurred from 2007 onwards, and also to keep everybody updated with how things are going with me at the moment.

This site is welcome for anybody to see, as I feel the more people can know about these cancers, the better (in other words, feel free to recommend this page to your mates...*hint* *hint*).
I hope you'll enjoy reading this blog, as I'm sure I'll enjoy writing it.

That's all for now folks

Andrew

:)