Transport to Christie Hospital

Hi, I'm Tracey (aka Cherry Morrello). In January 2021 I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Bowel Cancer. My primary tumour is in my rectum with mets in my liver, lungs, and kidney. In 2021 I went through some extremely torturous chemotherapy with the hope that it would treat my cancer. I was told after the first type of chemo in June 2021 that my cancer wasn't responding to the treatment and I was now terminal. I started on a new regime with the hope that this might work. It didn't. I started on my final chemo in October 2021 and in December 2021 just before Christmas, I was told there was nothing more that they could do for me treatment-wise at the Royal Derby Hospital. At the suggestion of my psychologist, I sought out a second opinion from The Christie Hospital in Manchester. They are a cancer specialist hospital that carries out clinical trials. I was accepted on a trial that was running and I just needed to go up to Manchester to fill in the paperwork. In January 2022 I was hospitalised for 3 weeks due to cancer spreading into my spine. During this stay in the hospital, the trial closed and I was no longer going to be part of it. I was devastated. There was hope. The Professor who was running the trial told me there was a possibility that they would be able to request the drugs from the drug company, Roche, on a "compassionate" basis. This would mean I could have the drugs but I didn't get any of the benefits like travel expenses etc. This brings me to my humble request. I have been lucky enough to have a driver take me to my appointments once every three weeks. This has previously been paid for by a friend, however, the funding has now been pulled and I am unable to cover the costs myself. I haven't been able to work since diagnosis and if my husband takes me he loses pay. The cost per trip is £500. The cost is so high because he drives me to Manchester, sits and waits for me all day and then is waiting outside for me when I stumble out after treatment. Our day normally starts with him picking me up at 7 am, getting me safely to the hospital, waiting for me in the hospital car park whilst I have my treatment and dropping me off at home at whatever time. It's been as late as 10:45 pm in the past. I'm so grateful to have Shayad as we have built up a friendship. We chat about everything on the journey to the hospital. Not so much on the way back. Although my driver Shayad is a wonderful person, I'm fully aware that whilst he's waiting for me to have my treatment, he is unable to do other work as he has no idea what time I will be ready to go home. That means he can't utilise that waiting time to earn money. He chats with me on the way to the hospital knowing I'm anxious and leaves me to my senses on the way home when he knows I'm tired. He is a big part of my cancer journey and I would love to be able to continue to have him drive me for my treatment every three weeks. I have been told that the treatment can continue for as long as it is working. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. If you could spare anything, I would be so grateful. If you want to follow my journey on twitter, its a warts and all account of my life, living with cancer. My twitter account is @CherryMorrello