Help Ben and his battle with Leukimia

UPDATE

Ben is a 24 year old man who finally moved back to Swansea after you all helped fund the move. However Ben is still battling cancer and has been undergoing recent tests as there was symptoms linking to other diagnoses. Ben have used any spare money and will use any money going forward to plan his funeral for when the time comes as we all know it could all be over tomorrow. Nobody should have to plan a funeral especially their own at the age of 24, Ben is living his live to the full at the moment which is a good thing.

Ben Peters is a 22 year old man from Swansea who is now living in Swindon. In late 2020, Ben believed he had tonsillitis but struggled to get an appointment with his Doctor due to the COVID-19 crisis. After finally getting an appointment, Ben was given antibiotics to clear his ‘tonsillitis’, however it did not go away.  Weeks went by and Ben was in complete agony, unable to eat or carry out day to day activities. On 26th December 2020, Ben was taken into hospital, and after blood tests and bone marrow tests, was diagnosed with acute lymphoma Leukaemia. Due to the travel ban in the UK, Ben has had to face his diagnosis without seeing his family, he is especially missing his mother. Although they do FaceTime, this has taken an unbearable toll on Ben and his family. With the help of his partner and family, Ben has started Chemotherapy treatment and is ready to fight this horrendous disease. 

Despite his daily pain, Ben and his family have managed to raise over £400 for cancer charities.

This GoFundMe has been set up especially for Ben. Any money raised will go directly to him, whether he wants to donate it or treat himself that is up to him. With all this young man has been through, he deserves a pick me up.

Ben will continue to fight and beat this. Anyone who knows Ben will know just how strong he is. 

Below, you can find Ben’s story, in his own words. 

I want to speak up about my diagnosis to raise awareness for other people who may find themselves in my position.  It started when I was having issues with my tonsils being inflamed and with COVID stopping doctors appointments etc I was finding it hard to get an appointment. When I eventually got an appointment I was given antibiotics and that was the best I could get due to the current situation. After multiple trips back and forth the doctors and multiple courses of antibiotics  i was missing out on work. Phoning in sick, struggling to do my daily activities Constantly in pain and not eating I phoned nhs 111 and demanded to be seen because I was really struggling with my breathing and I just knew something wasn’t right. I then had an ambulance come out and take me in which was in the 26th of December 2020 I was taken in and seen by the staff at urgent care and was sent up for blood tests for example on the Monday which we was still convinced in was tonsils. By the Tuesday I was was told it could be a possible lymphoma but would need tests done to just be sure and fair play to the staff at the great western hospital they didn’t wait around had a bone marrow test in the Tuesday which results come back on Thursday where me and my partner were sat down and told that it wasn’t tonsillitis and I was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukaemia. Which then because of COVID my partner had to phone my mum and let her know that it was confirmed cancer. With everything going on and my mum & family living in Wales they can’t obviously be here for me. As you can imagine how my mum feels her son have been diagnosed and she can’t be here it can’t be easy. But the way we look at it we would rather use face time and keep each other safe than risk  anything and not see each other at all. And when everything is eased we will see each other & also my family back In Wales and I can not wait for that moment.  The hospital were so supportive to me and my partner and we have never been so grateful to have answers. I stayed at great western for 2 days and was then referred to Oxford hospital to start my chemotherapy and have basically spent my time in hospital since having 5 days home. To anyone hearing this news it destroys you but no me I’ve let it be the making me of. But I couldn’t of done that without the support off the staff here at Oxford. Family friends my partner and all the charities that’s fun for patients like myself. 

I’m currently doing well and if I say do myself I’m at my healthiest I have ever been. 

Here’s a good example before this I use to turn my nose up to a lot of foods. Things I never even tried but said that I didn’t like. Since this journey I have gotten into a routine and have tried everything and anything. I like to keep myself in a routine in here such as doing things like preparing my clothes the next morning, pjs for the evening. Just a positive person who takes each day as it comes..

‘When you face difficult times, know that challenges are not sent to destroy you. They’re sent to promote increase and strengthen you..

An update prior to this i I’m now in remission  and have been allowed home for a a few weeks & start my second cycle of chemotherapy in 2 weeks as an out patient

To many this is the worse news possible to find out and the age of 22 but for me this is going to be the making of me. And I can’t wait to have some normality and get plenty of fundraisers under my belt for the hospitals I’m being treated at. 

I’ve already raised £214 for macmillan cancer support via a Facebook fundraiser & also my mum hayley peters raised £190 for teenage cancer trust via Facebook fundraiser. This is just the start of the fundraising and when we can we will be arranging to hold events. Hair shaves ect to give something back for all the support I’ve had in such a short time of me being diagnosed.