As many of you know on the 2nd of May our amazing Tommy No Socks passed away surrounded by those who loved him, at home in his own bed- just as he had wanted. What many of you probably didn’t know is the amazing fight he put up over the past 6 years. 

In 2016 we were all shocked when he was diagnosed with a rare illness called Aplastic Anaemia. Over the next 6 years this illness caused numerous other complications. Many people who looked after him during the last 6 years often commented they didn’t know how he was still here and looking at his big brave smiley face you’d of been forgiven for not realising just how ill he was. No matter how poorly he felt he would always put one of his big cheeky grins on be his cheeky mischievous self and crack a joke. This diagnosis changed the way he had to live his life, resulting in him having to give up his beloved trips to The Vine for a cheeky pint or 10 (although I think the hedge was grateful for this)🤣.

There are only 100-150 people diagnosed in the UK every year. This illness is a rare and life-threatening illness caused by the bone marrow failing to make enough of all three types of blood cells – red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Pair that with all the other life threatening conditions Grandad had and having him around for 6 years after diagnosis really was a medical miracle. Aplastic Anaemia can happen at any time to anybody and with it being a life-threatening condition, due to it’s rarity there isn’t yet a cure. 

We are please asking that instead of flowers when we celebrate Grandad’s life, for donations to the AAT (Aplastic Anaemia Trust) in his memory. They are the only charity in the UK dedicated to research into Aplastic Anaemia and allied rare bone marrow failures, and support everyone affected nationally.

This is a cause we hold dear to our heart and hope to help make the Aplastic Anaemia journey easier for people currently suffering from it, those who in the future will be diagnosed, families supporting a loved one and the medical teams treating AA patients. 

Grandad would do anything for anyone and we can’t think of a better way to honour his memory than this. 

RIP Tommy Oddy we will miss you forever. 

Many Thanks, 

Dot, Andy, Leanne and Hayley x