My journey from the Scottish Borders to Christies
Hello everyone, Sean here.
I know some of you will be wondering why I’ve not been in the club for some weeks.
In the middle of June, I embarked on what was meant to be an exhilarating week of adventure. My plan was simple: cycle all the bike parks around the Scottish Borders, enjoy daily walks, and paddleboarding sessions, all while working my way up to Fort William for a long-awaited hike up Ben Nevis. This was going to be my first time conquering that famous peak, and I couldn’t have been more excited. I had one of my best friends Stuart by my side, and the week was set to be filled with laughter, adrenaline, and the beauty of the great outdoors.
A sudden detour!
But life, as we all know, sometimes has other plans. My holiday lasted all of three hours. As I sat in a deck chair, ready to soak in the scenery, I suddenly felt feverish. It was as if my body decided to switch off. In what felt like an instant, I was debilitated, unable to walk, and the dream of an adventurous week evaporated before my eyes. With no other option, I had to end the holiday as abruptly as it had started and head straight back to Christies in Manchester.
By Tuesday, I was admitted to Christies, where I stayed until Sunday. The doctors managed to get my pain under control, and I was hopeful that the worst was behind me. However, the following week, the pain returned with a vengeance. I tried to continue with my normal working regime and visited the club and saw Claudia, from Biomed. The eagle eyed amongst you may have seen me with an IV in the club and sorry for those who had to queue whilst I hogged the hydromassage beds for an hour…
Later that day I was back at Christies, and this time, they decided to dig deeper. What they found was a severe infection in my pelvis. The culprit? Leaking synovial fluid that had made its way into the fissures of my bones, the same bones that had been compromised by Myeloma back in 2018 before I was diagnosed.
This infection led to yet another hip operation – a new ball socket replacement at Wrightington Hospital. Thankfully, the operation was a success, and now I’ve been back at Christies for almost two weeks, awaiting the start of a brand-new, revolutionary treatment plan. I’ll be the first individual outside of clinical trials to be put on this treatment with at least 6 months before it becomes available in the UK. This new treatment offers hope as I was informed yesterday I could be back in full remission within a few weeks!
Thank you to Samar, my consultant and all the amazing staff who have been looking after me and made my visit more like a 5* star treatment holiday than a hospital stay. In total in one week alone, there were 51 individuals looking after me in the hospital from house-keepers, chef’s, administrators, HCA’s aside from all the medical team that you initially think of when going into hospital. I feel so blessed, fortunate and lucky and would like to take this as another opportunity to thank everybody involved who is part of the team at Christies, they go about their daily responsibilities with a smile and take great pride and care in what they do. Positive stories that never get covered on the news.
Discovering Maggie's: A Sanctuary of Support
During my stay at Christies, I was introduced to Maggie’s, a healing retreat for cancer patients located just a few minutes’ walk from the hospital. Maggie’s is nothing short of fantastic. It’s a purpose-built venue with beautiful gardens, cozy conservatory areas, and an array of comfortable seating spots where friends and family can spend time during the day when visiting cancer patients.
What makes Maggie’s special isn’t just the space but the support it offers to families. They provide a safe haven where you can take a breather from the hospital environment, enjoy complimentary tea, coffee, refreshments, biscuits, and fruit, all while surrounded by the tranquility of their beautiful gardens. Maggie’s relies on volunteers and donations to operate, and their mission to support cancer patients and their families is nothing short of inspiring. You can learn more about them on their website.
I’ve made Maggie’s a part of my daily routine. It’s become a place where I can find some respite from the ward, a place to meet and work with friends, family, and colleagues. My beloved dog, Bayley, even gets to visit once a week, making it an even more special place for me.
Giving Back: A Small Gesture of Gratitude
Today, I wanted to give something back to Maggie’s, a small gesture to show my appreciation for everything they do. I arranged for several boxes of fresh fruit to be delivered for the patients and visitors to enjoy over the coming days. Sarah, a dear friend and colleague, arrived with the delivery from her local greengrocer, Cassidy’s of Formby village. Pictured here is me and Lisa, one of the volunteers from Maggies with the fruit delivery, a moment of shared gratitude and community spirit.
A quick thank also to Cassidy’s, who, upon learning where the fruit was headed, generously added an extra £25 worth of fruit to the order. It’s acts of kindness like these that make all the difference.
As I prepare for the next steps in my treatment, I’m reminded daily of the importance of community, of places like Maggie’s, and of the little things we can all do to make a difference.
Thank you all for your continued support, and I’ll keep you updated on my journey.
Stay strong, Sean