Some people raise money by scaling a fitness challenge. Some run marathons. Some put themselves through gruelling trials. I will certainly be doing all three.

A life changing diagnosis

On the 15th December 2019, I was admitted to Southmead Hospital following a week of illness. On the 19th December, and a ride on all the fancy scanners, we received the life-changing news that I have pancreatic cancer.

One of the main symptoms of the disease is pain-free jaundice. And, so looking like one of the The Simpsons, or my very own emoji, I was able to head home for Christmas. Telling our daughter this devastating news certainly wasn't the gift we had planned for her.

We had piles of information, but it was the stats kept ringing in my mind as I sat down for what I truly thought would be my last Christmas.

Incredible care and the news we wanted

On Friday 28th December we received the news that the Multi Disciplinary Team felt that the tumour was operable and that I would be in for surgery within 10 days. One of the lead surgeons called me himself at 5.40pm on Friday to talk me through things again. The care has been utterly remarkable.

Survival rates increase to 37% seeing 5 years with this procedure. Then, my very clever niece said something so insightful - one of those things that's obvious when you say it. The stats are skewed! Most cases present when patients are in their 70s... and so survival figures are bound to be lower.

I'm young, I'm fit, and I have everything to live for. So, I got to reading the survival stories. Like Carole, now aged 51, diagnosed at 41 (just before Christmas) like me. So, I've read them all... someone has to be in that 37%, someone has to be in the 1% that makes it a decade!

What's next?

On Monday the 30th, it was confirmed that I am booked to have what's known as a Whipple Procedure on 2nd Jan - this is an immense undertaking. Between 6-9 hours in surgery, with recovery akin to a heart transplant. I'll then be into chemo.

UPDATE 3rd Jan: Bryony spent a very long day in surgery, but her surgeon is very happy with the result and she is now recovering well in HDU. Please scroll down for further updates from Tom as they happen.

What are we raising money for?

For two things: 1) To keep my business on tick-over so I have something to come back to. 2) To donate to those organisations that I know we'll come to rely on in the coming months.

I run my own business. I don't have critical illness cover - so there's a lesson folks! It's a business that I love. It's a business that's currently mostly reliant on me being on a stage somewhere (our plans to move it to software will need to be put on ice). There's no HR team, there's no one keeping my job open. To maintain the overheads without me working will be a significant challenge. I would dearly like a business to come back to, without having to rebuild it all.

We have already had incredible care from not only the NHS at Southmead and at the BRI, but also from the Southmead Friends charity, the Macmillan nurses, and will no doubt be reaching out to Penny Brohn and others. We would love to be able to donate to their ongoing funding.

Please don't send flowers

We want to keep our home as normal as possible for our beautiful daughter, and don't want it to resemble a florists or a sweet shop. And so, all that I ask is that if you were thinking of sending flowers or chocolates - please donate what you might have spent. If you would like to send a card, please send to the address on the Watertight Marketing website.

My goal for 2020

As we're in the goal setting time of year, I'll share my goal with you... to stay alive.