Help Make One of Steve's Last Wishes Come True
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This page has been created to try and fulfill my dad, Steve's last wishes. Annabelle, a T2 VW Moonraker Campervan was dad's "mistress". Dad's plan was to take the time to restore her to the way he dreamed but now he is gone we as a family wants to make that possible so that he can live on and we can continue to make memories using Annabelle as if he were still with us. Charlie is soon to turn 8 years old and we want him as well as everyone else to have a way to connect with dad and through Annabelle, this can be made possible. Dad had a vision on what he wanted Annabelle to look like and we all know what that vision is however, we do not have the financial ability to do so. This is a request for you to be able to help my dad's vision come true so that he lives on with us all.
Below is the story of dad's 3-month fight against AML & PCP until the end on 17th March 2021.
Below is the story of dad's 3-month fight against AML & PCP until the end on 17th March 2021.
This £5,000 target will not be enough for us to restore Annabelle completely but it is to get us heading in the right direction.
We will set aside some of the donations to be donated to the Brabourne Ward in Kent & Canterbury Hospital where dad was treated.
We will set aside some of the donations to be donated to the Brabourne Ward in Kent & Canterbury Hospital where dad was treated.
Due to the pandemic during the 3 months dad, was in hospital no one was able to visit him therefore he had to do all this alone and make extremely life-altering decisions.
On 8th December 2020, my dad was taken into hospital and diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).
Acute Myeloid Leukemia - AML
In AML, the myeloid stem cells usually become a type of immature white blood cell called myeloblasts (or myeloid blasts). The myeloblasts in AML are abnormal and do not become healthy white blood cells. Sometimes in AML, too many stem cells become abnormal red blood cells or platelets. These abnormal white blood cells, red blood cells, or platelets are also called leukemia cells or blasts. Leukemia cells can build up in the bone marrow and blood so there is less room for healthy white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. When this happens, infection, anemia, or easy bleeding may occur. The leukemia cells can spread outside the blood to other parts of the body, including the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), skin, and gums.
He was made stable to be able to come home for Christmas for 2 days before beginning his treatment. My dad was given a high dosage of chemotherapy due to such a high count of cancer cells, during the treatment, my dad also had to fight with several complications included a deep root infection in his leg, an infection due to the PICC line as well as multiple unknown allergic reactions. Only to discover that his specific cancer cells are resistant to the form of chemotherapy he was treated with.
He was then, once recovered as much as possible from the first treatment, given the green light to come home for 2 weeks before he started a different form of treatment, however, within 5 days we had to call 999 due to a pain close to his heart which was causing him significant discomfort.
He was then taken back to the hospital where there were many logistical issues, he was not able to return to the specialist ward in a different hospital to where he was taken by the paramedics which flagged serious concern due to the chemotherapy stripping him of his immune system.
Once being transferred back to the specialist ward in Kent & Canterbury Hospital, Brabourne Ward. They began treating the unknown chest infection and wanted to postpone the new form of chemotherapy treatment, FLAG-IDA, in order to beat the infection however, the leukemia was too aggressive and they needed the treatment to begin without first overcoming the unknown chest infection.
In the first few days of the FLAG-IDA treatment dad seemed well, positive, and with as much life possible. However, in the later stages of treatment, it was as if dad had all that life drained from him. Becoming completely bed-bound and dependant (and if you don't know my dad he hates being a burden and a dependant).
From there things only got worse, the unknown chest infection developed and started taking control. Doctors took multiple samples to give to the microbiologists to grow cultures to try and identify what this unknown infection was yet was ineffective. They began treatment by giving a series of different antibiotics but unfortunately, he did not respond to the antibiotics because his immune system was so low with no white cells and neutrophils. It wasn't until they called mum and myself, up to the hospital to have a meeting with dad's registrar and consultant where the consultant had an epiphany of the unknown infection being possibly PCP.
The PCP caused dad to not intake enough oxygen for the body and mind to work correctly as a result dad began to hallucinate. It was at this point the ward allowed family to come to visit anytime because they knew they were fighting a battle that wasn't likely to be won.
The hallucinations took hold very quickly and while dad had the mental capacity he kept trying to bring himself to some sort of reality but couldn't. It was as if he was suffering from dementia however, he never lost a single memory, only unable to recognise people on occasions.
On the evening of March 17th, 2021, my dad lost his fight against leukemia. Between the PCP and AML alongside multiple infections and allergic reactions on this journey his body gave in but we know he was mentally still fighting.
On 8th December 2020, my dad was taken into hospital and diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).
Acute Myeloid Leukemia - AML
In AML, the myeloid stem cells usually become a type of immature white blood cell called myeloblasts (or myeloid blasts). The myeloblasts in AML are abnormal and do not become healthy white blood cells. Sometimes in AML, too many stem cells become abnormal red blood cells or platelets. These abnormal white blood cells, red blood cells, or platelets are also called leukemia cells or blasts. Leukemia cells can build up in the bone marrow and blood so there is less room for healthy white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. When this happens, infection, anemia, or easy bleeding may occur. The leukemia cells can spread outside the blood to other parts of the body, including the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), skin, and gums.
He was made stable to be able to come home for Christmas for 2 days before beginning his treatment. My dad was given a high dosage of chemotherapy due to such a high count of cancer cells, during the treatment, my dad also had to fight with several complications included a deep root infection in his leg, an infection due to the PICC line as well as multiple unknown allergic reactions. Only to discover that his specific cancer cells are resistant to the form of chemotherapy he was treated with.
He was then, once recovered as much as possible from the first treatment, given the green light to come home for 2 weeks before he started a different form of treatment, however, within 5 days we had to call 999 due to a pain close to his heart which was causing him significant discomfort.
He was then taken back to the hospital where there were many logistical issues, he was not able to return to the specialist ward in a different hospital to where he was taken by the paramedics which flagged serious concern due to the chemotherapy stripping him of his immune system.
Once being transferred back to the specialist ward in Kent & Canterbury Hospital, Brabourne Ward. They began treating the unknown chest infection and wanted to postpone the new form of chemotherapy treatment, FLAG-IDA, in order to beat the infection however, the leukemia was too aggressive and they needed the treatment to begin without first overcoming the unknown chest infection.
In the first few days of the FLAG-IDA treatment dad seemed well, positive, and with as much life possible. However, in the later stages of treatment, it was as if dad had all that life drained from him. Becoming completely bed-bound and dependant (and if you don't know my dad he hates being a burden and a dependant).
From there things only got worse, the unknown chest infection developed and started taking control. Doctors took multiple samples to give to the microbiologists to grow cultures to try and identify what this unknown infection was yet was ineffective. They began treatment by giving a series of different antibiotics but unfortunately, he did not respond to the antibiotics because his immune system was so low with no white cells and neutrophils. It wasn't until they called mum and myself, up to the hospital to have a meeting with dad's registrar and consultant where the consultant had an epiphany of the unknown infection being possibly PCP.
The PCP caused dad to not intake enough oxygen for the body and mind to work correctly as a result dad began to hallucinate. It was at this point the ward allowed family to come to visit anytime because they knew they were fighting a battle that wasn't likely to be won.
The hallucinations took hold very quickly and while dad had the mental capacity he kept trying to bring himself to some sort of reality but couldn't. It was as if he was suffering from dementia however, he never lost a single memory, only unable to recognise people on occasions.
On the evening of March 17th, 2021, my dad lost his fight against leukemia. Between the PCP and AML alongside multiple infections and allergic reactions on this journey his body gave in but we know he was mentally still fighting.
Co-organizers (6)
Mark Ip-Lloyd
Organizer
England
PIWAH IP
Beneficiary
Claire Barnes
Co-organizer
David Lloyd
Co-organizer
Becky Lloyd
Co-organizer
Philip Lloyd
Co-organizer