Making a dream, a reality.
Donation protected
Tracey & Jon have been together for the past 25years, and have made a life time of memories together.
Together they have not only overcome hurdles & mountains, but together they have smashed right through them, each time they have been knocked down they have somehow managed to bounce back twice as strong. Although it seems they have been dealt a harder hand than most over the last few years.
This is their story.
Jon has always worked hard, long hours as a HGV lorry driver and has always provided well for his family. After they both had a hard year, we decided to treat them and for Christmas 2018 my brothers and I chipped in together and sent them both for a short break to Poland. So, they could spend some well-deserved time together, one evening whilst sat in a nice, warm cosy pub in Krakow, Jon asked the question mum had been waiting years for!
“will you marry me!” and of course she said yes! This is the first time Tracey had smiled, had been genuinely happy since losing her mum in April 2017.
They came home and started to plan their dream wedding together, the venue was booked, and the deposits paid, for the Grange Hotel in Winterbourne & the perfect dress.
Colours and themes were discussed and picked. For the first time in a long time life was good, they were both happy and full of smiles. It was as though they had fallen in love all over again.
That was until Jon was told that he was in stage 4 liver failure and required a full liver transplant. Life stopped, wedding plans put on hold. Jon grew weaker and fought infection after infection. Jon was blue lighted to the Royal Victoria Free Hospital in London; a liver had become available. We were all waiting with bitter sweet anticipation. If a liver had become available this could be a new lease of life for Jon, but sadly, for this liver to become available it meant a mother & father had to say goodbye to their child, a brother or sister saying goodbye to their sibling, or a child saying goodbye to their parents. From someone who has already had to say goodbye to a parent and a sibling I knew just how hard and heart breaking this was.
It’s difficult to wish for a new liver knowing that the ultimate cost to someone else is their life.
Unfortunately, it was not meant to be and after all the anticipation it was found that this liver was no longer suitable to be transplanted. Because the persons mum, understandably just could not say goodbye to her child. We all headed home with heavy hearts.
We then had another call to say that a liver was available, Jon went back to London for tests and scans only to find out he was then “to healthy” for the transplant, his liver somehow started to slightly regenerate itself, and there was some one else who then benefited from that liver.
Jon then became even more unwell, drastic weight loss, no appetite and his stomach ballooned so much with fluid that has had to be drained multiple times.
We knew that this could not be done forever, all procedures have their limits.
Then Jon had to endure Spinal surgery to remove the deep-rooted infections that antibiotics just would not touch.
Jon was forced to give up work, due to the constant pain, the fatigue, and the exhaustion. A proud man no longer able to provide for his family. This broke him, and although he would never admit it himself it pains him to rely on others.
Jon has now been diagnosed with Liver cancer and is undergoing TACE Chemotherapy,
The pain, exhaustion, fatigue and limb weakness is progressively getting worse.
He still wants to marry his partner of 25 years and the mother of his Children.
Jon is an extremely proud man, but unfortunately, we have reached a point where the deposits paid are non-refundable. They are set to lose thousands of pounds that they have already paid.
Now Jon is not allowed to work and has ridiculously been denied financial support because he is not “unwell enough” the wedding is in the balance and a struggle currently just to cover the bills.
They do not need or want anything extravagant, they just want a nice day with their loved ones, while they are both able to do so.
To those of you who know Tracey & Jon you know that their door is open at any time of the day or night if you need help, if you need a shoulder to cry on or just a good cuppa and a chat they are there, always. Without hesitation or judgement.
If you are down on your luck and you need a hot meal or money for the electric they would give you their last, rather than see you go without.
For the first time ever, I am now asking for your help, to help them directly.
If any of you could possibly spare a pound or two in order to help these two pillars of the community, we would forever be grateful. I understand we are not all in a position to donate, and that is absolutely fine. But if you could please share just to get their story a little further we would really appreciate it.
The wedding has been pushed back already, and the date is set for 24/5/2020, unfortunately it cannot be changed again :(
Thank you for taking the time to read their story.
Bless you all x
Together they have not only overcome hurdles & mountains, but together they have smashed right through them, each time they have been knocked down they have somehow managed to bounce back twice as strong. Although it seems they have been dealt a harder hand than most over the last few years.
This is their story.
Jon has always worked hard, long hours as a HGV lorry driver and has always provided well for his family. After they both had a hard year, we decided to treat them and for Christmas 2018 my brothers and I chipped in together and sent them both for a short break to Poland. So, they could spend some well-deserved time together, one evening whilst sat in a nice, warm cosy pub in Krakow, Jon asked the question mum had been waiting years for!
“will you marry me!” and of course she said yes! This is the first time Tracey had smiled, had been genuinely happy since losing her mum in April 2017.
They came home and started to plan their dream wedding together, the venue was booked, and the deposits paid, for the Grange Hotel in Winterbourne & the perfect dress.
Colours and themes were discussed and picked. For the first time in a long time life was good, they were both happy and full of smiles. It was as though they had fallen in love all over again.
That was until Jon was told that he was in stage 4 liver failure and required a full liver transplant. Life stopped, wedding plans put on hold. Jon grew weaker and fought infection after infection. Jon was blue lighted to the Royal Victoria Free Hospital in London; a liver had become available. We were all waiting with bitter sweet anticipation. If a liver had become available this could be a new lease of life for Jon, but sadly, for this liver to become available it meant a mother & father had to say goodbye to their child, a brother or sister saying goodbye to their sibling, or a child saying goodbye to their parents. From someone who has already had to say goodbye to a parent and a sibling I knew just how hard and heart breaking this was.
It’s difficult to wish for a new liver knowing that the ultimate cost to someone else is their life.
Unfortunately, it was not meant to be and after all the anticipation it was found that this liver was no longer suitable to be transplanted. Because the persons mum, understandably just could not say goodbye to her child. We all headed home with heavy hearts.
We then had another call to say that a liver was available, Jon went back to London for tests and scans only to find out he was then “to healthy” for the transplant, his liver somehow started to slightly regenerate itself, and there was some one else who then benefited from that liver.
Jon then became even more unwell, drastic weight loss, no appetite and his stomach ballooned so much with fluid that has had to be drained multiple times.
We knew that this could not be done forever, all procedures have their limits.
Then Jon had to endure Spinal surgery to remove the deep-rooted infections that antibiotics just would not touch.
Jon was forced to give up work, due to the constant pain, the fatigue, and the exhaustion. A proud man no longer able to provide for his family. This broke him, and although he would never admit it himself it pains him to rely on others.
Jon has now been diagnosed with Liver cancer and is undergoing TACE Chemotherapy,
The pain, exhaustion, fatigue and limb weakness is progressively getting worse.
He still wants to marry his partner of 25 years and the mother of his Children.
Jon is an extremely proud man, but unfortunately, we have reached a point where the deposits paid are non-refundable. They are set to lose thousands of pounds that they have already paid.
Now Jon is not allowed to work and has ridiculously been denied financial support because he is not “unwell enough” the wedding is in the balance and a struggle currently just to cover the bills.
They do not need or want anything extravagant, they just want a nice day with their loved ones, while they are both able to do so.
To those of you who know Tracey & Jon you know that their door is open at any time of the day or night if you need help, if you need a shoulder to cry on or just a good cuppa and a chat they are there, always. Without hesitation or judgement.
If you are down on your luck and you need a hot meal or money for the electric they would give you their last, rather than see you go without.
For the first time ever, I am now asking for your help, to help them directly.
If any of you could possibly spare a pound or two in order to help these two pillars of the community, we would forever be grateful. I understand we are not all in a position to donate, and that is absolutely fine. But if you could please share just to get their story a little further we would really appreciate it.
The wedding has been pushed back already, and the date is set for 24/5/2020, unfortunately it cannot be changed again :(
Thank you for taking the time to read their story.
Bless you all x
Organizer
Joshua Hathway
Organizer
