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Dear
Friends,
Sadly, on the 7th April Ishmael was admitted into hospital and
diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. Ishmael will be in hospital
for at least three weeks while undergoing chemotherapy treatment.
Ish
has been feeling tired and unwell since January and we just assumed
he had been overdoing things as usual. He began to have headaches
and last week came out in bruises all over his body including in his
mouth. That was when we began to get alarmed. He was admitted into
hospital on Mon 7 April for tests.
Ish has
undergone lots of tests now including a bone marrow biopsy. The
diagnosis is Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. Thankfully now we know it is a
type of cancer that can be treated so that is an answer to prayer.
They
started Ish on chemotherapy yesterday in tablet form while they
stabilised his blood count (it was down to 4) they gave him a
platelets transfusion, anti-biotics for infection and temperature.
He has also had 8 hours of blood transfusions last night and xrays.
He is receiving pain killers and several other drugs and they are
monitoring him constantly.
Today
will be a long day as he undergoes surgery this morning for a
Hickman line to his chest to administer the heavy drugs. He will
have these for 3 weeks and if he responds will be allowed home to
continue treatment as a day patient for 3 months or until he goes
into remission. They have given us lots of literature and
information to read. The staff are being extremely helpful and the
consultant in charge of his treatment is a christian. So we are
reasssured God's hand is upon him.
The
treatment is very unpleasant and he cannot have visitors except for
family due to infection, as his immune system is very low but he is
maintaining a positive attitude.
If
you would like to be kept informed of Ishmael's progress we will be
posting news updates on his web site (www.ishmael.org.uk).
If you would like to support Ish during this difficult time there
are three ways you can help:
1. Prayer
Please pray that Ish will respond to the treatment and that the
cancer will go into remission. Please pass on this news so we can
get as many people as possible to stand with us in prayer.
2. Encouragement
Part of the treatment is maintaining a positive attitude so if you
would like to send a message of support please use the following
email address and we will pass on your message to Ish:
getwellsoon@ishmael.org.uk
3. Practical
We have had to cancel all Ish's engagements for the next 6 months
and so he will need financial support. If you feel you would like to
support Ish financially while he is unable to work please contact
irene@irenesmale.co.uk or forward donations (payable to I. Smale)
to:
Ishmael
PO Box 592
Chichester
PO19 9FJ
Thankyou for your continued support,
Ish, Irene & Family
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