Adrian Sudbury was a reporter for both the Huddersfield Express and Chronicle Series and the Huddersfield Examiner. In November 2006 the 25-year-old was promoted to digital journalist, effectively editing the new-look Examiner website.
Just two days into his new role he became seriously ill and called in sick. A week later he drove himself to A&E and was eventually diagnosed with leukaemia.
It was then identified that he actually had two distinct types of the disease running at the same time. According to the medical literature he was the only person in the world to have this condition. As such, it was not possible to offer Adrian a prognosis.
Here he shared his experiences of the disease and his treatment up until his passing.I've never been like Geoff Capes but before all this I was fit and healthy.
Each week last summer I was running 5km, swimming, doing boxing training and playing 5-aside with lads from the Examiner down at Soccer City in Waterloo. I don't smoke or drink (excessively) and I still find it hard to understand how quickly I became so seriously ill.
Truth be told, I had been suffering slightly for the previous 18 months. I seemed to pick up colds and chest infections remarkably easily and then they would stay around for three weeks, whereas previously they would have cleared up much more quickly.
By October last year I had stopped all sport because of a mysterious pain deep in my right thigh. It was very uncomfortable and was not getting better like a pull or a strain tends to. I asked a physiotherapist to have a look and she could not find anything wrong with it. More on this pain later.
On a more positive note in that same month I was promoted from regular reporter to 'digital journalist'. This effectively meant I would be editing and putting news onto this new site.
Being a bit rubbish at computers I was sent over to our sister paper, the Liverpool Echo, for a week long course on how to operate the system.
During that week it's fair to say I deteriorated. I remember one night following work I went to meet an old friend in a bar for a drink. I had one pint, promptly vomited, made my apologies and headed back to my hotel where I slipped into a cold sleep.
A virulent cough and cold had taken their grip and I was finding it harder to concentrate on what I was doing. I was also starting to suffer from fatigue - I was shattered from mid-afternoon onwards.
I finished the course and gratefully headed home thinking a restful weekend would see me right and return to work full of vim and vigour.
It didn't. The new site was launched and along with my video colleague, we had two really successful days operating the new site, updating it with fresh material throughout the day.
In fact things were going so well I decided to ask for some time off to get better. I went to the Doctors and was told to take a week off work. I did this but it wasn't helping. The fatigue was getting ridiculous. I can remember washing the pots one day and having to go for a nap half way through.
I tried to give work one more go the following week but it was no good. Just walking up the stairs was exhausting. I had become really pale and all my colleagues said I should go home.
After half a day, and a 15 minute kip in the medical room, I did just that. I went back to the Doctors where I was given the following advice, "Drink a cup of warm lemon juice and honey".
The next day, with no idea what else to do, I got in my car and drove myself to the A&E at Sheffield's Northern General - I have been in hospital ever since.
hey shades!
You are more than entitled to be a bit "boo hoo I have leukemia" so bring it on!
I had a great time with you this weekend (and Poppy before the rumour mill begins grinding) and it is fab to see how chippa you remain.
I love the blog and your fetching pics in last weeks edition of the paper too (before and after shots). This actually made its way into my office from a colleague - you are officially famous in Eversheds now as a result of my shameless pleas for sponsorship for the upcoming white wate rafting extrvaganza in aid of the Anthony Nolan Trust!
I am really glad you have been given the opportunity to write as you love it so much, and I am looking forward to future installments.....
Lots of love to all friends already on the blog, Ad's family and any strangers too!
Big hug
Hanxxx
Hey Adrian
This in no way to try and get a gift from us this Christmas !!!
We are well underway with our Christmas Campaign and already have 225 young people to send gifts to - we are really saddened and shocked by these figures.
We have the Catherine and David video on our website now if you want to have a look and smile !
Take care love to you and Poppy and come on get out of there - you are increasing our figures !
Lots of love
Santa's little helpers x x x x
Hi Adrian,
I am really impressed with you and your dedication to this blog. Being diagnosed with leukaemia is an incredibly difficult thing to deal with especially at such a young age. We all begin life thinking we are going to live forever, and growing old slowly is the natural process for coming to terms with our mortality. In this day and age we expect a longer life. I know I did. But in June 2007 I was diagnosed with leaukeamia and at the age of 28 my perspective suddenly changed.
It's funny, you'd think that being told you are likely to live a much shorter life than you thought would naturally motivate you to live to the full. In reality I found that it had the opposite effect. You project positivity to others, but deep inside you are thinking what's the point in it all now. It has taken me a year to come to terms with all this and begin to pick myself up.
You are in a particularly unfortunate place with the complications of your diagnosis, but you have the support of a loving family and network of friends. You also have the knowledge that with this campaign you are making a difference. That is all any of us can hope to achieve in life and, for what little it's worth as you don't know me, I'm proud of you.
Your diary guides people through the very personal journey that many people diagnosed with leaukeamia have to go through alone. This blog is a helpful way of seeing that we are not alone in that journey. That is a big thing to me.
Family and friends can support you and that is invaluable, but they are less able to help you come to terms with the impact your situation is having on them and their lives. No parent wants to outlive their child. No wife wants to loose their husband. No child wants to loose their parent. All you can say to them is "it'll be ok, don't worry" when you really just don't know. You become the focus of attention and everything whirls around you. There is just so much we don't know and we place ourselves in the hands of our brilliant health care service and staff (we'd have little or no help if we lived in most other countries), and pray. In many ways I think it is harder for the friends and family.
I wish you and you family all the very best. Thank you Adrian for all you are doing,
God bless,
Oli
Hi Adrian,
My name is Chanel I live in Phoenix AZ. I am going to be 30 in July and I was diagnosed with cml 5 years ago. I have been on Gleevec and Sprycel. I have been putting off the bone marrow transplant I am a single mother of a 10 year old. I just want you have touched my heart and my heart hurts so bad for you. I will pray for you every time I pray and I want you to know you are a wonerful person.
Gob Bless you!
Chanel Firth
Hi Adrian my name is Susan and I am 34 years old. I was flicking through the tv last week when i saw you on bbc breakfast show. You immediateley caught my attention as soon as I heard the word leukaemia. I was diagnosed myself 10 years ago with aml. I was given chemo for 5 months followed by a very succesful bone marrow transplant donated by my eldest brother. I have since gone on and had a beautiful son now aged 6. I realise even more so now how incredibly lucky I am. I have not been able to stop thinking about you and your amazing strength and positivity during this very sad time. I think the fact that you are bringing this campaign to life is fantastic as most people are truly unaware of how dependent leukaemia sufferers are. I have signed your petition and will get as many people as I can to sign it too. I know you wont be here forever but I know your amazing leagcy will live on and on. I will pray for you and truly hope that you will find peace and not suffer anymore. You are an inspiration xxx
Hi Adrian,
Have just read about you in Times 2.
Your amazing campaign made me think about bone marrow donation myself, but not sure if I'm too old, nearly 56, reasonably fit (if slightly tubby). Recently retired, so could take some time out during November 08 to donate to someone and recover. Surrey resident, reasonable access to London. Any chance you could refer me (via email) to someone who might know age restrictions?
Best wishes Angie Mathers
DEAR ADRIAN...I'VE JUST READ YOUR ARTICLE IN THE TIMES,28TH JULY 2008.IN SUCH A SHORT TIME YOU HAVE DONE SUCH AN AWESOME AMMOUNT FOR THE AWARENESS OF BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTS.WHAT AN INSPIRATION YOU ARE TO HAVE HELPED AND GIVEN HOPE TO SO MANY....MY SON JONNO DIED 2YRS.AGO FROM A BRAN TUMOUR AGED 29YRS. LIKE YOU HE HELPED SO MANY ON HIS JOURNEY AND RAISED SO MUCH AWARENESS AND MONEY FOR RESEARCH. HE FORMED A GROUP FOR YOUNG CANCER SUFFERERS CALLED THIRSTY FOR LIFE WITH A CAN OF BEER ON THEIR T-SHIRTS....LIKE YOU HE LIVED RIGHT TO THE END ENTERTAINING FRIENDS,FAMILY AND ALL AND SUNDRY EATING AND SLEEPING.THERE IS A WONDERFUL BOOK THAT HAS JUST COME OUT ,,,WALKING AROUND THE WORLD BY THE INTERNATIONAL BRAIN TUMOUR ALLIANCE WITH JONNO IN IT. LIKE YOU HE LEFT A LEGACY OF LOVE AND HOPE..WITH LOVE AND HUGS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY JUDY GORDON ..
hi, i read adrian`s blog.its hard to read and see how many other`s have been through,tough times.just by reading the first blog bought back so many memories of my son ryan .it was 3 years ago on the 21 st of august 05 that ryan died.he had acute myloyed leukaemia.he had 10 months of treatment.also having a bone marrow transplant.he never gave up .and had amazing help from all the doctors at kings college hospital in london. also in brighton.just reading the blog.gives me great comfort to understand what may be ryan was feeling at the time . he always put on the brave face,no matter what he felt.may be one day there will be an aswner to why so many young people of this age group,get this cancer,we wait in hope.just to say ,to adrian family love and remember with pride.