Life With Leukaemia Isn't Always Bad

Before I explain the title to this post, it's time for an update.

I am no longer taking the Morphine for my joint pains, and I am no longer using a wheelchair to get me from A to B. The joint pains seem to have gone (for now, hopefully forever... we can dream). I'm still the sexiest skinhead around, and I'm starting to get used to having a breeze against my scalp! I'm starting steroids today, so if I turn green and start smashing things to pieces... you know why, okay?

Sorry dad, my skinhead's better :)

Anyway, I shall explain the title to this post.
Since being diagnosed back in 2007, I have had some really nice things happen to me, some have been from the kindness of people's hearts. This blog post will be to tell you some of the great times I have had because of Leukaemia.
First of all, in September 2007, Manchester United kindly donated tickets for me, my brother and dad to go to watch the MASSIVE match at Old Trafford, where they gave host to Chelsea in a title deciding 90 minutes. We had brilliant seats, and to top the lot... Man U thrashed Chelsea in an impressive 2-0 win. We saw quality players like Ronaldo, Rooney, Vidic, Ferdinand, as well as the talented Chelsea team.
My family have been keen to raise money for charity since my diagnosis, but the first major event we did was the Hastings to Ashford bike ride, with my family members cycling alongside many Kent police officers. My dad organised this and I believe the total money raised was in excess of £4,000, every penny going to Children With Leukaemia. I wasn't fit to take part in the event, although I willingly spoke to local newspapers about my story, and acted as a photographer during the course of the event.
Family Fund, an amazing charity, kindly donated me a laptop, which was vital for my schoolwork, socialising with friends, and it is this very laptop that I am using now to write my blog for you. So I'm guessing we should be thanking Family Fund for my blog.
Clic Sargeant are another charity which has given my family plenty of reasons to be grateful. They provided my family with a much needed week-long holiday in Chichester. It was during a stressful time in my treatment, so the whole family was grateful to get away. During the course of the week, my family and I participated in tennis, archery, target shooting, football. So not only was this a welcomed week to relax, but a chance for us to interact with each other, which is often difficult when half of us are at home, and the rest are at hospital.
My family has had holidays abroad since my diagnosis too... and they have been spectacular! The first of my overseas travels was a holiday to a brilliant Greek Island called Kos. I went with my dad's side of the family, and we had a blast! It was a small island, but it had so much to offer. The history, food, views, temperature, it was all brilliant. Even the wasps over there were cool! THEY DIDN'T STING! (I have a bad record with wasps, I'm normally a walking target for them).
The next overseas visit was a trip to Mallorca with my mum's side of the family, funded by a group of Ashford-based firefighters called "Blue Watch". They did a long-distance run, whilst carrying a large wooden fire engine. Again, this proved to be a huge boost for my family, again, with plenty of stuff for us to do, and plenty of sunshine to go along with it.
A group of the most generous, kind hearted people you'll ever know: Alternative Hair. They are a group of talented hairdressers, who perform shows across the world to raise money for Leukaemia Research. The money they raised funded a trip to Disneyland Paris for my family, alongside many other families in a similar situation to mine. We had so much fun, in an environment where all the stress and worries just seem to disappear. When they say things like this gives you a magical feeling, they really aren't joking. During the trip to Paris, my brother and I took part in an interview for the next Alternative Hair fundraising appeal. It was the least we could do. They had put so much time and effort for our benefit, so a short interview seemed like little bother to us.
After talking about the travel side to Leukaemia, I think it's time I spoke about the next charity event. There was a Leukaemia Research Bikeathon being held at Lydden Race Circuit in Kent. Leukaemia Research asked if I was fit and willing to cycle a lap of the track, and to use the story in their newsletter. They said it would be brilliant if a Leukaemia sufferer was to take part, but that there was no pressure for me to do so. Then they mentioned that there would be a special guest at the event, Olympic Gold Medal winning cyclist Jamie Staff (winner of the team sprint, the team that set a new world record!) I jumped at the idea! He was such a great guy, he cycled round the track with me and my brother, telling us about the Olympics and just having a chat with us. I was so excited about the whole thing, I didn't complete 1 lap, but 4! It felt surreal, I was having a joke and a chat with an elite athlete, the sort of people I idolize. In the newsletter article HE DESCRIBED ME!! as an inspiration... I was in shock, for me it was the other way round!
Since hearing the news of my relapse, Manchester United decided to be absolutely brilliant once again. Honestly, I know that United are forever my team, and I'm not a glory hunter, they are just a brilliant club. They gave my dad, brother and I tickets to go to watch the Champions League clash between United and German titans Bayern Munich. You couldn't have picked a better match this season. We had stunning seats yet again, being sat in a similar place to where we was back in 2007. Manchester United won the match 3-2 (so I have never been to Old Trafford and watched us lose. I must be a lucky charm!). Unfortunately it wasn't enough for us to stay in the competition, but it didn't matter too much to me. The quality of the play was jaw-dropping, as you would expect in a match like that. Manchester United had given me a much needed lift after the deflating news of relapse. On the journey home I could barely talk, I had been singing and chanting so much during the match that I had strained my throat, but I felt so happy that I felt like I could tackle anything, never mind Leukaemia.

So, there you go, life's not all bad. Yes it is hard work, and very stressful at times, but the kindness and support of friends, family, and people across the world that have probably never met me, but still care... it makes things worth it.

I'll probably be continuing my story in my next post, so stay tuned.
Andrew
:)