April 2003 - Mario was only 51 years old when he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. Leukaemia. We couldn't believe it. Mario didn't smoke, hardly ever drank. He was just a normal loving father to three daughters and one son and a devoted husband. Just a genuinely lovely man. Leukaemia. Until that day, we knew nothing about it, nothing of the torment, misery and suffering it brings, nothing of the fight Mario would have against him for the next 19 months, nothing of this blood cancer and the struggle for Mario to get well and fight this awful disease....The doctors told us it was extremely difficult to cure Mario's condition as it is a Leukaemia which usually affects children. Mario started chemotherapy treatment. This gruelling treatment left Mario weak and depressed. The doctors soon advised us that Mario's Leukaemia was aggressive. His only option was to have a bone marrow transplant. This was devastating. He had to go into isolation for a month. He was weak, lonely, scared but through the whole process, brave. After the bone marrow transplant his recovery was short lived. As his immune system was so weak Mario contracted pheumonia. He ended up in intesive care where he was sedated until he could get some strength back. After this fight Mario then got a condition called encephalitis. This was awful as he was incoherent and not the dignified, strong, amazing man that we all knew. However, Mario fought on, brave throughout continuing with chemotherapy and radiotherapy which made him so, so, so ill. He was in hospital so often, sometimes for weeks at a time as he was too ill to come home. The doctors told us there was no cure for Mario. They asked him if he would go onto trial treatments to see which medication helped/worked with his condition. Mario agreed. He said; "where there's life there's hope". Mario's courage, strength and hope was an inspiration. He was so ill and went through so much. Yet, he wanted to help find a cure for this awful disease. He put himself forward and even in his darkest moments when he felt "like a guinea pig in a lab" he didn't give up. November 2004. Mario had just turned 53 years old. He passed away at home with his wife by his side. Leukaemia took his life. Leukaemia is an awful, devastating, terrifying blood cancer. We lost one of the most kind, thoughtful, loving gentleman who ever lived. Mario was a fighter. He has gone yet his family are still here missing him every single day. With your help and kind donations you can help find a cure for blood cancers. We desperately want to help so that others do not lose their lives too soon. Mario did his bit until the day he died. Please help us to find a cure.

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