Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I'm running the Chester Marathon in memory of my best friend's dad.

Message from Bec:

On 9th December 2011 my dad was told he had a T4 tumor growing in the lower part of his pelvis. The tumor had originated from his rectum spread into his bowel, prostrate and on to his  pelvic bone. On the 16th of December we found out it was cancer. As such a close family it felt like our entire world had stopped and came crashing down around us.

From then all the plans where put in place for my dad to receive radio and chemotherapy. After Christmas he was admitted into Clatterbridge for a week of intense treatment of both, three weeks every day to receive radium and again for his fifth week, intense treatment of both therapies.
After eight weeks of of waiting for the therapies to take full effect my dad, mum and me attendant an appointment we received the news were the treatment had been unsuccessful, however there was an operation available which may or may not be a success.
My dad being the fighter he was decided to go for the operation that following summer.

After an agonising day of waiting we were then told the operation was not a success as the surgeon did not feel he was able to take on such a huge mass. As a family we were distraught, however it came to light that a surgeon in Leeds was considering and reviewing his case. He went on to take my dads case and he was admitted to hospital a couple of months later.
He was in surgery for just sort of 9 hours and this amazing man managed to remove the whole tumor.

I can remember this being the most amazing day ever.
My dad was discharged from Leeds a month later put into remission shortly after. We went on with our lives as an even closer family as we started.
As part of his recovery proses the wound on his back, which was just short of half a foot,  was to be left open due to the area it was situated. We all helped him dress the wound and clean it, which in a way made us even closer.
Months went past and his wound started growing smaller which was amazing to watch.

My dad started experiencing some more pain so we made appointments to make sure things were ok.
He went for more scans and we were told the tumor had returned however this time it was more aggressive and had already filled the space it originated, plus others. There was nothing more they could do apart from treatment control.

As the cancer progressed so did my dads levels of pain as it had started to move into his back. We were told that he was going to be admitted to Marie Curie Liverpool to sort out his pain and sickness and also to blood transfusions to give him a boost. The first week in the hospice was probably the worst for him. His pain was agonising and his sickness was causing his to lose weight. However by the second week the doctors and nurses had been able to get everything under control. He was comfortable sitting and walking and the steroids they put him on gave him an abnormally huge appetite which was amazing to see. A week weeks went be and all the unbelievable staff members had became our family. They were letting my dad out for the day and back at night which was building his confidence massively and even allowing him to enjoy the beginning of summer.
He was eventually discharged and we had our dad back! The next couple of weeks were the best. He was eating, only had small episodes of pain and living life like he used to. We almost forgot the horrible news we had been told months before.

As the weeks went by the symptoms got worse. The disease was clearly progressing. As soon as this happened he was brought back to the hospice. Once again the amazing staff there, from the consultants to the cleaners, made every day so much easier. They helped with his pain as much as they could, which was so difficult because the back an spine is so sensitive. They explored every option they had until eventually they only had one more. An epidural. The epidural was put in and the pain got more bearable for him. As the deseas progresses my dad deteriorated. He passed away peacefully on 15th August 2013. He fought with everything he had for nearly two years.
Without the Marie Curie hospice the time my dad was with us would of been a lot shorter. He received the best help and treatment available from staff who love their jobs and love every Individual patience as if they are their own. Nothing was too much and no question was silly. They carried my dad an my family as a unit helping us with every aspect of our lives. Without them we would have been lost. We will never be able to express our thanks but maybe one way is to raise funds and provide these amazing people with the  necessary equipment.

Thank you for taking the time to read this story and please give what you can for such an amazing cause.
All our love
Xx