‘Late last year my family and my world were turned upside down as the result of one blood test my mum had. My mum had MOT blood tests thinking it was just a bit of fatigue from her fairly recent COVID-19. However, the GP took one look at the results and sent her straight to hospital, without passing go, despite being late on a Friday. Within 24 hours and more tests my mum was given the devastating news it was leukaemia. Then within 72 hours of those results the crushing blows continued with it being a rare form of leukaemia – chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia (CMML).

As a family, we have had to rally together and learn a new normal. We have been through anger, frustration, tears, denial, despair, sleepless nights, and even small moments of joy as we came together. To say it has been a rollercoaster of emotions would be an understatement. We have had to break the news to wider family and friends. We have had to tell the young and old we know about the life changing news.

My mum’s life now consists of having to go for weekly blood tests, 7 days of chemotherapy injections every 28 days and every six months bone marrow tests. In the beginning, she also needed two stays in hospital due to infections taking hold because she was so weak. As well as this, we have lost count of the wonderful blood donors who have allowed her to have numerous blood transfusions. This is the new normal we are having to learn about. Especially my dad, who didn’t expect his golden years together with my mum like this after 50 years together. After all they had just purchased their first ever camper van to go travelling. Sadly this wasn’t to be,

My mum had always been the heart of my family, holding us altogether through the good and tough times.

They don’t prepare you for watching this person, my mum, become a shell of herself in a matter of days rather than weeks.

They don’t prepare you for turning your lives upside down in a matter of days.

They don’t prepare you for having to fill in paperwork about your mum facing the reality that she may be gone soon.

One of the things that has made it tough is the lack of information out there about CMML. Even some of the British national charities for leukaemia have no information on CMML which is why we chose Leukaemia Care as the charity to support. We couldn’t have done it as a family without some of their information sheets and the supportive links they have. For that I, and my family, will be eternally grateful.

So please, if you can, help Leukaemia Care carry on the work they are doing by putting your hands in your pockets and help them to help the next family or person in need.’