Story
I’m playing again in Football For Cancer for 2 kids that both lost there life’s at a very young age to Cancer
First up is Bethany Susie Tiller was an inspirational young lady. Born on the 8th October 2001, she grew up in Denmead. From an early age, Beth loved to dance and was a member of the Southern Arts Academy for many years, performing in shows.
Music was also a big part of her life, with Bruno Mars always at the top of any playlist. As well as dance and music, Beth loved her football and was a passionate Portsmouth fan, along with her dad, attending matches when possible. Known for her great sense of humour and cheeky personality, Beth also loved hanging out with her close knit group of friends, she was known to them as Tiller! Although quiet and unassuming, Beth touched the lives of everyone who knew her, even those who only met her after her diagnosis in Nov 2016 with Non Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Beth never let her illness define who she was, never losing her sense of humour. The strength and stubbornness that she bravely fought with had everyone in awe of her and her smile and positivity were always the things people mentioned when talking about her. Through her friendship with England cricketer Anya Shrubsole MBE, Beth and her dad Dave were able to rub shoulders with the celebs at the BBC Sports Personality awards, and her love for Portsmouth Football Club deepened with regular visits from Christian Burgess and Kyle Bennet and not forgetting, Kev the Kitman! Although sadly Beth lost her battle in April 2018, her infectious personality and courageous outlook ensure that she will never ever be forgotten.
And not forgetting
SAM HAMBLEN
Sam - My gorgeous baby boy, Our Son, Emily’s Brother, was a fun loving, cheeky chappy with (except when exceptionally poorly) a wide smile, bright blue eyes, amazing long eye lashes and an infectious laugh. He was such a character that everyone immediately fell in love with him. He gained and lived up to his nicknames ‘Sam Ham’ and ‘Captain Chaos ‘. He was incredibly brave but above all, he was always so kind, caring and loving, even when he was in so much pain himself. And there’s another thing;
Sam loved football, Sam really loved football! Sam really really loved football!
From the moment Sam learnt to walk it was obvious that football was going to be one of his main loves along with tractors, trains, nee nahs and jumping in muddy puddles. Excitedly he was put on the Little Kickers waiting list to start as soon as he was 18 months old.
We were devastated beyond belief when at only 16 months old he suddenly became very ill and was diagnosed with stage 4 high risk neuroblastoma. He went downhill rapidly and started emergency chemotherapy within the week. He was put on a gruelling treatment regime and our lives were changed forever.
We thought his football dreams were over but Little Kickers kindly let him join in whenever he was home and well enough. He loved it and it became the highlight of his week. We just had to show him his football strip, his face would light up and he’d race around singing ‘football, football ‘ in his special little way. Both he and I looked forward to our Saturday morning footie sessions and I treasure the memories.
The initial chemo regime wasn’t successful so he had to endure further aggressive chemo. He’d go from a happy, smiling, dancing little boy to an extremely poorly baby and we feared for his life each time. Over his 21 month battle Sam had countless rounds of chemo, scans, blood and platelet transfusions, nasogastric tubes inserted/removed, injections/insuflons, 3 operations to insert central lines for intravenous access, stem cell harvest, radiotherapy,hearing assessments and hearing aid fittings due to hearing loss, a side effect of one of the drugs, eye examinations, surgery to remove a brain tumour and his big 10.5 hour operation to remove part of the main tumour which we had been told he might not survive. He very nearly didn’t and required more blood than his small body held and yet the next day he was sat up on his bed reading his tractor book! (Looking much more refreshed than the surgeons).
His scans in January 2017 were much improved but he then caught chicken pox and during this hospital stay his central line split. Hence, his chemo was delayed. He had his usual review scans at the end of February which shockingly showed that the cancer had suddenly spread aggressively and we were told he only had 3 to 4 weeks to live. Devastated - no words - he was never really Sam again. He became so unwell that all meds had to be given intravenously. On the 1st April he was christened at home and we arrived as a family at Naomi House. We all thought he might not make it through the night, but he amazed everybody by reaching his 3rd Birthday on the 9th April. He was such a fighter and determined to stay with us even though he was in so much pain. He passed away 10 days later on the 19th April 2017- we were all heartbroken, still are and always will be.
The affect on families of a cancer battle is immense, emotionally, physically and financially. Throughout this time we became adept in many medical procedures and constant medication planning & administration. One of us had to be able to drop everything to do the emergency dash to hospital which could be very sudden and any time day or night. Often on a Friday night....we started calling Winchester Hospital his weekend retreat. The other needed to look after Emily who was 4 when Sam was diagnosed. We couldn’t work, the cost of hospital parking and food (parents didn’t get fed), the extra fuel for Alan’s visits and outpatient treatment etc was high which makes charities such as FFC and those who donate soooo valuable.
It’s so lovely that Sam will be remembered in association with his passion for football and to help raise money for such a worthwhile charity.
Thank you for this opportunity, it means more than words can say,
Karen, Alan, Emily and Twinkly Sam
First up is Bethany Susie Tiller was an inspirational young lady. Born on the 8th October 2001, she grew up in Denmead. From an early age, Beth loved to dance and was a member of the Southern Arts Academy for many years, performing in shows.
Music was also a big part of her life, with Bruno Mars always at the top of any playlist. As well as dance and music, Beth loved her football and was a passionate Portsmouth fan, along with her dad, attending matches when possible. Known for her great sense of humour and cheeky personality, Beth also loved hanging out with her close knit group of friends, she was known to them as Tiller! Although quiet and unassuming, Beth touched the lives of everyone who knew her, even those who only met her after her diagnosis in Nov 2016 with Non Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Beth never let her illness define who she was, never losing her sense of humour. The strength and stubbornness that she bravely fought with had everyone in awe of her and her smile and positivity were always the things people mentioned when talking about her. Through her friendship with England cricketer Anya Shrubsole MBE, Beth and her dad Dave were able to rub shoulders with the celebs at the BBC Sports Personality awards, and her love for Portsmouth Football Club deepened with regular visits from Christian Burgess and Kyle Bennet and not forgetting, Kev the Kitman! Although sadly Beth lost her battle in April 2018, her infectious personality and courageous outlook ensure that she will never ever be forgotten.
And not forgetting
SAM HAMBLEN
Sam - My gorgeous baby boy, Our Son, Emily’s Brother, was a fun loving, cheeky chappy with (except when exceptionally poorly) a wide smile, bright blue eyes, amazing long eye lashes and an infectious laugh. He was such a character that everyone immediately fell in love with him. He gained and lived up to his nicknames ‘Sam Ham’ and ‘Captain Chaos ‘. He was incredibly brave but above all, he was always so kind, caring and loving, even when he was in so much pain himself. And there’s another thing;
Sam loved football, Sam really loved football! Sam really really loved football!
From the moment Sam learnt to walk it was obvious that football was going to be one of his main loves along with tractors, trains, nee nahs and jumping in muddy puddles. Excitedly he was put on the Little Kickers waiting list to start as soon as he was 18 months old.
We were devastated beyond belief when at only 16 months old he suddenly became very ill and was diagnosed with stage 4 high risk neuroblastoma. He went downhill rapidly and started emergency chemotherapy within the week. He was put on a gruelling treatment regime and our lives were changed forever.
We thought his football dreams were over but Little Kickers kindly let him join in whenever he was home and well enough. He loved it and it became the highlight of his week. We just had to show him his football strip, his face would light up and he’d race around singing ‘football, football ‘ in his special little way. Both he and I looked forward to our Saturday morning footie sessions and I treasure the memories.
The initial chemo regime wasn’t successful so he had to endure further aggressive chemo. He’d go from a happy, smiling, dancing little boy to an extremely poorly baby and we feared for his life each time. Over his 21 month battle Sam had countless rounds of chemo, scans, blood and platelet transfusions, nasogastric tubes inserted/removed, injections/insuflons, 3 operations to insert central lines for intravenous access, stem cell harvest, radiotherapy,hearing assessments and hearing aid fittings due to hearing loss, a side effect of one of the drugs, eye examinations, surgery to remove a brain tumour and his big 10.5 hour operation to remove part of the main tumour which we had been told he might not survive. He very nearly didn’t and required more blood than his small body held and yet the next day he was sat up on his bed reading his tractor book! (Looking much more refreshed than the surgeons).
His scans in January 2017 were much improved but he then caught chicken pox and during this hospital stay his central line split. Hence, his chemo was delayed. He had his usual review scans at the end of February which shockingly showed that the cancer had suddenly spread aggressively and we were told he only had 3 to 4 weeks to live. Devastated - no words - he was never really Sam again. He became so unwell that all meds had to be given intravenously. On the 1st April he was christened at home and we arrived as a family at Naomi House. We all thought he might not make it through the night, but he amazed everybody by reaching his 3rd Birthday on the 9th April. He was such a fighter and determined to stay with us even though he was in so much pain. He passed away 10 days later on the 19th April 2017- we were all heartbroken, still are and always will be.
The affect on families of a cancer battle is immense, emotionally, physically and financially. Throughout this time we became adept in many medical procedures and constant medication planning & administration. One of us had to be able to drop everything to do the emergency dash to hospital which could be very sudden and any time day or night. Often on a Friday night....we started calling Winchester Hospital his weekend retreat. The other needed to look after Emily who was 4 when Sam was diagnosed. We couldn’t work, the cost of hospital parking and food (parents didn’t get fed), the extra fuel for Alan’s visits and outpatient treatment etc was high which makes charities such as FFC and those who donate soooo valuable.
It’s so lovely that Sam will be remembered in association with his passion for football and to help raise money for such a worthwhile charity.
Thank you for this opportunity, it means more than words can say,
Karen, Alan, Emily and Twinkly Sam