Picture this – you are a fit 45 year-old who has just spent the weekend walking in Snowdonia and then out of the blue you are diagnosed with a life-threatening form of leukaemia.
Hard to believe, but a true story for Dave Bradley from Harlescott who admits May 18, 2009 was a day he will never forget.
Doctors diagnosed Dave with acute myeloid leukaemia, a moment he describes as life-shattering.
It all started when a rash appeared on his body which he didn’t take much notice of at first. His teeth later started bleeding and when he cut himself shaving the bleeding wouldn’t stop.
Doctors were to tell him the news that he was likely to be suffering from leukaemia and he was soon admitted to Ward 23H (Haematology) of the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital where he began treatment.
It became apparent that his immune system had collapsed and he would require a full bone marrow transplant to survive.
“I was told I was in a bad way and that if I didn’t have the transplant I could die. It’s a moment I am not likely to forget.
“After thinking of myself to be a very fit man who enjoyed walking and loving the outdoors, to be told by doctors you have leukaemia and you need an urgent transplant was life-shattering,” he said.
“I was basically told that I had a blood count of two when it should have been in the hundreds, and that my immune system was like a baby’s.
“Due to no immune system I was kept on the ward in isolation for 103 days until I received my bone marrow transplant from my sister in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.”
The married father-of-two praised staff who looked after him and his family during this traumatic time.
“The doctors and staff on Ward 23H supported not only me but my whole family through a very traumatic series of events,” he said.
“With the ward’s expertise and support this process was made easier as they took me and my family along a harrowing journey and we feel that now we belong to a much bigger family.”
Dave, who is a supply chain manager at Palethorpes in Market Drayton, has organised a fundraising challenge later this month to thank the people that saved his life.
On June 26, he will lead a controlled ascent of Snowdon with a group of nurses from the ward, family and friends in a bid to raise £3,000.
He said: “I wish to raise as much money as possible for the ward to support the fight against leukaemia. I cannot thank them enough.
Still in recovery
“I have been taking things easy, but am still able to get outdoors to do the things that I enjoy doing. I am still in recovery and will hopefully be back to where I was before the diagnosis in the next six months.
“This whole experience has definitely changed my life forever. If anyone else is going through a similar thing then I will be more than happy to help and share my experiences with them.”
Dave said he had been well supported by friends, family and work colleagues in his bid to raise money for the ward.
A team from Palethorpes took part in the Muller 10k race in Market Drayton last month, while a team from his 123 Ammunition Squadron RLC entered the 22-mile Bridgnorth Walk on Monday.
“Everyone has been fantastic in supporting me during this difficult time and I cannot thank them enough,” he said.
If anyone would like to sponsor Dave as he prepares for his challenge, visit www.justgiv ing.com/Dave-Bradley
By James Pugh
