Hi, I'm Matt,
I am currently waiting to be matched with a bone marrow
donor, I’m hoping they could be German, so they
might give me a bit of talent to design some wicked
motors(!), as that's what I plan to do when I get
older. It's a scary thought though that my donor may
possibly be found outside of the UK. Please please
please give a few minutes of your time to attend one
of the Recruitment Clinics, you never know you might
be my potential lifesaver! If you’re not a match for
me there are many other people who, each day, find
themselves in the same situation as me – please help
to reduce their worry of whether a suitable match
might be found.
I was originally diagnosed on 4th December 2008 with
Acute Myeloid Leukaemia at Northampton General
Hospital. Unfortunately this type could not be
treated at Northampton. The Consultant was told
there were no beds available at Birmingham so we
began our journey in Leicester Royal Infirmary Ward
27. The journey started with a harsh chemo for 10
days which destroyed all my good and bad blood
cells, then began the long waiting game in hospital
for all blood counts to recover by themselves, while
being helped with many blood and platelet
transfusions.
My mates and family came to visit which speeded the
recovery. The downside was that the Leicester Tigers
came to visit - they weren't happy to see that I
displayed my Saints shirt for all to see! Mum was
happy to see the players, can't imagine why! After a
month of waiting my blood counts started to rise and
even better we were allowed home for a few days and
then back in to start round 2. I did 4 rounds in all
with bone marrow tests after each one to see how it
was performing. In May we were allowed home and I
was signed off from treatment. During June and July
I was back at school - Northampton School for Boys -
the hairstyle would not normally be allowed but they
made an exception! They worked around whatever
lessons I was up to attending which really helped
and the boys and teachers treated me like I had not
been away, I was soon back in, even played a bit of
footie. My Hickman Line was removed - hurray! In
September I returned to school sporting a full head
of hair and even got to play a rugby match, and
trained for a couple of Sundays at my club Old
Northamptonians.
Unfortunately on 23rd September at my monthly check
up the Consultant at Leicester spotted that my
Leukaemia had returned. Once again we were whipped
up into a whirlwind of hospital visits, between
Leicester, Birmingham and Northampton, sometimes 3
in one day. We have landed at Birmingham Children's
Hospital Ward 15. This time they have said that the
chemo is even harsher and there will be 2 rounds and
then a bone marrow transplant, radiotherapy and
steroids (I'm determined to make the front row!).
What’s even worse is I have to celebrate my 15th
birthday here and I have to carry on studying for my
GCSE's - harsh.
All my mates, family and friends, school, rugby club
and Northampton Saints have been such a big support
to me all the way through this journey and I am glad
of this opportunity to thank them all.
Please attend one of the Recruitment Clinics, take
all your family and friends with you, and could I
also ask that you consider blood and platelet
donations because if these had not been available
this journey to recovery would never have started!
Matt Herbert
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