You don't expect to be told at 39 that you have stage 4 bowel cancer with liver metastasis, but on the 17th October 2014 that's exactly the heartbreaking news we received. After the initial shock we were advised it was treatable but Richard would have to battle chemo and a couple of major surgeries. Richard's response was "BRING IT ON, LETS GET STARTED!"

In April 2015 after 6 sessions of chemo Richard had 60% of his liver and entire gallbladder removed. In June 2015 he had part of his bowel removed. He was advised that this surgery could result in him requiring a stoma. My first visit with him directly after his surgery he shrieked across the ward with a huge smile "Have you heard? I didn't need one!" He had managed to dodge the "stoma", and was exceptional pleased about it. After 6 more sessions of chemo, Richard was in remission and put on monitoring...FANTASTIC NEWS.

In July 2016 with a group of friends we went out to Cyprus and got married. We didn't ask for presents we asked for donations to Bowel Cancer UK.

In September 2016 Richard also did a run for charity to raise money for Bowel Cancer UK and between the run and the wedding gifts we managed to raise over £2,500.

After almost 12 months clear in October 2016, following a scan we were told the devastating news that the cancer was back with metastasis in the liver again and now in both lungs. Richard was straight back on chemo while we waited to hear from the various specialists if he was viable for surgery. A very anxious few weeks followed and finally the answer was yes. Unfortunately due to issues beyond our control the surgeons couldn't agree on what needed doing first. After a temper tantrum from a very annoyed wife they final decided his lungs were a priority. Richard spend our first wedding anniversary having major surgery on both his lungs, but he managed the surgeries like a trooper. Next stop liver surgery...again!

In the weeks that followed Richard was struggling and in a lot of pain from his bowel. A PET scan showed the cancer was bigger in his liver and there was now cancer in his peritoneal. The liver surgeons said they would not operate whilst the cancer was in his peritoneal. After a trip to The Christie we were advised that Richard would be viable for HIPEC treatment (a nasty and long surgery to remove cancer from his peritoneal including a hot chemo bath to be poured into his cavity) but only if the liver metastasis was dealt with.

In October 2017 Richard was in so much pain he was rushed into hospital for emergency surgery where he had another part of his bowel removed due to scarred tissue from the previous surgery causing it to twist and obstruct. Once again he was warned this could result in a stoma. Richard's faced dropped and my advice as his wife was, "deal with it if it's going to save your life because it doesn't bother me and it won't change how much I love you." Richard agreed and said he would accept it if he needed one. However, once again Richard woke from the surgery and had managed to swerve the "stoma".

It was then back on chemo and after 6 sessions the cancer had grown slightly in his liver so a different chemo was tried over another 6 sessions. A further PET scan showed the liver metastasis had grown again but only slightly however the liver surgeons now said he wouldn't be viable for surgery and we were told the catastrophic news that it could be time to prepare for the worse as avenues had been exhausted and you can only be on chemo for so long.

Richard is my soulmate, my hero, my rock, how do you prepare to loose such a huge, important part of your life. We were suppose to grow old together, we used to talk about retirement and grandchildren! He's a fantastic husband and a fabulous step-father to my daughter, she never knew her own father because unfortunately he died in a tragic accident the day after she was born. Yes unfortunately I have already buried one husband, and I'm really NOT ready to do it again!!

Richard has gallantly decided he's not ready to give up yet and even though he has been through so much he's still got so much fight in him.

He's doing it for himself, for me, our daughter and our family (especially his mum because no mother should have to bury their child) and friends, who have all already been so supportive over the last 4 years.

On 31st July 2018 we paid for a private 2nd opinion consultation with a professor. We didn't expect much, we are realistic, but Richard needed to put his mind at rest and make sure he'd done everything he possibly could to survive.

To our surprise the professor advised quite nonchalantly that we may have exhausted all NHS options but there are two other possible treatments that Richard is viable for and he wouldn't have a problem treating him. Our heavy despair diminished and for the first time in a long time hope was rising in our hearts.

What we need?

Either treatment (Cyberknife or SIRT) is around £30,000 and we have already had a generous donation of £10,000 so we are asking people if they could help with our cause and raise the remaining £20,000. We don't expect the world, after all charity begins at home but whatever you could managed it would be so gratefully appreciated. The sad thing is, this awful disease has touched so many of us at some point. My own step-father lost his battle with cancer just early this year. In a world where we can run a business from a smart phone and have a library of information at our fingertips, we still seem to be lacking in cancer success stories.

Dicky Who?

UPDATES

September 2018 - One of the cats has been hit by a car which has resulted in "tail pull" which means his tail has been amputated. Whilst in the vets they managed to overdose him, which means he had to stay in longer than anticipated, he came out the day before we head off to London for a week.

SIRT prep week and targeted radio on side. Full week in London, Rich breezed through the targeted radio but he was feeling the SIRT prep the week after because they go in through your femoral and he's really bruised and battered. However, the prep work went well and they are really confident that they beads should stay contained to the liver and do their job.

Daughter attacked by some scumbag whist walking back to her university home from town. Luckily enough she gave him a right hook so he ran off scared. There is CCTV footage so the police have caught him.

October 2018 - SIRTS treatment complete, scans due beginning November ready for update in London with the Professor in December. 🤞🏻

November 2018 - Richard completes 12 cycles of chemo and is given a well earned break. After a couple of weeks he's exhausted and not feeling well at all. Blood tests show that his white blood count is dangerously low and a course of daily injections are prescribed, which boost his white blood cell count.

Richard is rushed into A&E in excruciating pain, urinating blood and blood clots. A 2” lesion is removed from his bladder. Scan results show lesion size decrease in liver but due to cancer growth in the bladder whilst on chemo it means the current chemo is no longer working. This is the 2nd type of chemo tried. Only thing the NHS can offer now is 3rd line chemo. Hopefully there will be better news in London next week and there is more they can offer privately. It's been a very stressful, exhausting and scary couple of weeks.

December 2018 - Professor Sharma in London is really pleased with how his liver has responded to the SIRT treatment and said "it's done exactly what we expected it to do." He was surprised about the cancer in his bladder but feels this could be dealt with with targeted radio treatment. He would like CT scans and a PET scan arranged for the New Year and will formulate a plan then. In the meantime he's told us to go away and enjoy Christmas treatment free as nothing is likely to change drastically between beginning of December and January. You would think this would be a relief but believe it or not there's a safety blanket attached with chemo because whilst you're having chemo, in your head the cancer is not running riot unmonitored!

Tried to sit back and enjoy the start of the festivities but there's always that black cloud full of anxiety and fear hanging over you. Rich is gradually getting better but it's being a slow processes. Can fate let us be for a few weeks without any major crisis!!!

18th December 2018 - Fate obviously feels that we haven't had enough to contend with this year. Took the cat (the one who lost his tail in September) to the vets yesterday because he's not been his self. They've found a mass in his stomach area which they think might be cancer. Today it's his turn to go for scans, tests etc. We are trying to remain positive and hope they can sort him. He's my mate, he sits on my knee in the evenings, he lays next to me in the office when I'm working, he follows me to the bathroom and sits on the mat if I have a soak in the bath.

14th January 2019 - Unfortunately chemo isn't working for the cat and today we made the decision to put him to sleep before he suffered any unecessary pain or distress. RIP furry boy xx

16th January 2019 - Rushed Rich into Burton hospital again, straight to surgical assessment. Think it'll be surgery again on his bowel and this time I think he'll be getting his complimentary stoma also.

19th January 2019 - Rich has had surgery to remove another part of his bowel. He not been able to avoid a stoma this time.

3rd February 2019 - Rich never recovered from his surgery and passed away peacefully with his family beside him. :(

In Memory of our HERO!

Right all this is my final push for pennies. I know you have all be amazingly generous already so I really just want your coppers or whatever change you can spare

These are 'Dicky's Diamonds' the chemo team at Burton Queens Hospital. They have been in our lives since October 2014 and without their dedication, compassion and commitment Rich would never have got as far as he did. They are not just a chemo team, they make you feel like part of an elite family, from the moment you step through the doors. They know nobody wants to be there but while you are they've got your back whether you are on chemo or taking a break, in need of urgent care or just feeling out of sorts. They don't just take care of the patient, they support the whole family. Rich thought the world of this team and Burton oncology department and the feeling was mutual. This group of people deal with this awful disease everyday but they still took the time to visit Rich on the ward, and are terribly upset over his loss.

So in memory of Richard and to honour the fantastic job this amazing team do any donations going forward will be donated to the Chemo unit at Queens Burton Hospital. So please give what you can and thank you all once again xx