CHILDREN WITH LEUKAEMIA XMAS RAFFLE...............

Yes its me again and it must nearly Christmas again



Ladies and Gentelman Boys and Girls

Many of you will know my son's story about recovering from cancer when he was diagnosed aged 15 (story is below)

Every year I sell raffle tickets (at a £1 each) run by the Great Ormond Street Hospital for the charity Children with Luekaemia

Over the past couple of years I have raised over £5000 from the forum with a sizable contribution from Betfair

You dont have to send any money now. All you have to do is to send your name and address to my email and I will send you the raffle books for you to sell

My email address is

nickstern@hot mail.com

I need your name address and how many tickets you think you can sell. There are 20 in a book.

Its in a wonderful cause and you never know when it could strike you or a member of your family

Thanks for listening

:x you all

Nick xx

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My son Mark aged 15 in October 2005 had a problem with his knee. Due to the imcompetence
of our GP who thought my ex-wife was paranoid he was diagnosed with cartilage trouble. ligament problems and then rheumatoid authritis. The condition did not improve. Due to the fact that my son had gone through
a tough few months she arranged for him to go to Madrid to see the away leg of the Champions League game
(March 2006)

'Fortunately' he had a fall after only a couple of hours in Madrid and my brother-in-law who had gone with had
to take him to the hospital (they missed the game). The doctor took one look at his knee and said that he was
not happy with it. On returning to England my ex took him straight to the doctor who ordered a blood test (better
late than never)

He was admitted to Barnet Hospital where they thought he had a very rare form of cancer (at one stage they thought he
would die or have to have his leg amputated).

Due to the severity of his condition they wanted to admit him to University College Hostpital in London immediately
to start chemo treatment. They did not have a bed so he went to Southampton Hospital where his treatment
started.

He started his his treatment in March of 2006 and was eventually continued at UCH where he was in hospital for about 3
months less a couple of days when he was allowed to go home. He had 5 lots of chemo (2 very intensive and 3 not so
intensive) He had the usual chemo symptoms (sore throast feeling sick etc).

By the way he also had a double fracture of his knee which wouldn't heal until the tumour had gone.

He has been through so much but without a word of complaint.

He was released from hosptial in August 2006. An x-ray at Stanmore
Hospital showed that the fractures had healed which means that the tumour had gone

He still faced extensive physio on the knee which has been in plaster for about 4 months but he has now fully
recovered

Then in November 2006 another x-ray revealed a tumoue on his other knee. Fortunately this was benign and removed in January 2007



His ordeal is now over and is looking better than before his illness

His whole outlook on life has changed.

Two things that I would like you remember

1) Never ever take your GPs word for things (you know your child better than anyone)

and

2) Never give up hope



The one thing that I am looked forward was taking him to Arsenal again. He has been coming with me since he was
3 and if anything had happened to him I doubt if I would have ever gone again

He has had many scans over the past few months and everything appears to be ok

In April 2008 the Specialist said he wants to see him again in Aug and then December

From next year 2009 twice a year

He is now at Uni in Birmingham