SOLO ATLANTIC ROW - DECEMBER 2022

The journey I now find myself on started in November 2019 and is far less to do with me, as it is to do with the lives of two extraordinary people. 

At the tender age of eight years old, my cousins daughter Maddison started to complain of difficulty digesting her food, a feeling as if it was sticking in her throat. Some weeks later, Maddison short of breath was unable to lie down, as it would severely impact her ability to breath.

Rushed to hospital Maddison was found to have T Cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma, a large tumour in her chest, fluid from which totally consumed her right lung, with the left beginning to follow suit. Finally giving reason for her inability to digest food and having a shortage of breath.

Maddison was in intensive care for 2 days and her Chemotherapy started straight away, which would go on to last for two and a half years. For eighteen months treatment was intense and Maddison spent most of this time in hospital, as she underwent both blood and platelet transfusions also.

The last twelve months of her treatment was less intrusive, as she was in a period of ‘maintenance’ but remained extremely weak and in and out of hospital, as her body tried coping with such an ordeal.

In November 2019, Maddison finally got to ring the end of treatment bell and is currently in remission. She still however has four weekly checks to ensure she remains in good health.

Then things became even more personal for me.

December 9th, 2019 following a rather innocuous fall, my Mum was admitted to hospital with a suspected broken hip. In some pain, her spirits were high and she was more embarrassed than anything else.

What should have been a routine procedure was becoming anything but, as sepsis took hold and already poorly and being administered the very strongest of drugs, her body was slowly succumbing to this dreaded infection.

Early March and still in hospital my Mum was feeling institutionalized, not eating, not really communicating and with the added worry of COVID, my daily routine of sitting at her bedside, talking, trying to entice her to eat, moisturising her feet and wiping her brow was coming under scrutiny

At 11.02am on Sunday, 29th March I arrived at my Mum’s ward to find her curtain pulled and no one at her side – still warm to the touch and with her eyes wide open, she had literally just passed away with no one at her side.

This is a vison that will haunt me for the rest of my days and a scenario that I quite simply had never contemplated having to face – my rock, my very best friend, the kindest and most caring person in my world had gone.

My wonderful Mum was a big supporter of cancer charities during her lifetime and coupled with the journey Maddison endured at the hands of this terrible disease, it seems rather fitting that I support a children's cancer charity that are doing such great work, with aspirations to deliver even more.

Please visit my website www.beardedventurer.life for a more detailed account of my motivations and challenges.

Teens Unite supports young people fighting cancer to live their best life, while others search for a cure. We inspire young people to recognise their potential now and in the future and empower them to live every moment to the full. When you're faced with cancer, plenty of people will tell you what you can't do, but we show these young people what they can do; not letting the 'c' word hold them back or define who they are.