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.Throughout my illness I have been given the most tremendous support.
Firstly I would like to thank all the nurses, doctors and support staff on ward P3. They have been brilliant to me. Every time I have felt down someone has come in and cheered me up just by spending time with me or listening to me talk drivel.
I could not have come this far without them and I don't think I will ever be able to express my full gratitude to the team.
I also want to say thank you to my anonymous donor who has so generously given me a chance to live.
When I was diagnosed with leukaemia back in November it was like a huge rock being thrown into a pool, the ripples of which swept out across so many friends, family members and colleagues.
Their response has also been incredible raising a large sum of money for charities associated with leukaemia.
My friend Phil Driver ran the London Marathon for the Anthony Nolan Trust, in a pretty impressive four hours. He has also organised a big football tournament in Liverpool at which their will be a drive for new stem cell donors.
I hope he knows how grateful I am for all the effort and time he has personally put in.
Phil has now raised over £5,000 for the Anthony Nolan Trust.
My girlfriend Poppy invited members of her family and other friends to throw themselves down a 6-mile white water rafting course in Scotland. This feat was made all the more impressive that one of the rafters was unable to swim.
They raised a further £4,200 for the Anthony Nolan Trust.
My mum, Kay Sudbury, works for a law firm in Nottingham called Browne Jacobson. The firm held a raffle and auction - where partners volunteered to work as slaves for the day - raising over £4,000 for Leukaemia Research.
Special mention has to go to Examiner photographer Andy Catchpool. He donated the £175 given to him for 25 years' company service to ward P3 where I am being treated. The ward is about to lauch a huge improvement programme and his money will be put towards directly enhancing the facilities available for patients undergoing leukaemia treatment.
Thank you to all my family and friends who have helped me during this difficult time.
I'd also like to thank all my colleagues at work - thanks for everything you have done and for being so brilliant during a pretty terrible time in my life.
I have been really touched by the amazing levels of generosity and kindness shown towards me. You have no idea how much it has helped.
Hi Adrian,
My mum told me that a member of the examiner staff had been diagnosed with cancer and because I had been there on work experience there last year I immediately went to check it out.
Of all the people in the office it could have been yours was the face and name I would have recognised most becuase I spent the day with you in the newsroom (I don't know if you remember; we went to the magistates court and sat in on that noise abetment case), so I was shocked to see it was you. I have read your blog and think your amazing, you seem to be fighting through with unbelievable bravery despite how hard it obviously is for you at the moment.
By chance I happen to be taking part in the Race For Life this summer so I am doing my bit for Cancer Research.
I am also still pursuing the career in journlism, I have decided that if I could choose a subject to write about it would be music because of my passion for it. I have therefore started trying to gain expereince now by joining a couple of fanzines and I've already had a few reviews published on the web.
Good luck with everything in the future
The blog is a great idea and I'm sure it will provide a lot of inspiration for others who find themselves in a similar position
All the best
Claire Drury
Hi Adrian
Hope everything is going ok with your transplant and that you are managing to fill the time when you are by yourself.
I underwent a stem cell transplant in 2002, to fill the time I read all Bill Brysons books, which made me laugh,and watched so many DIY programmes that towards the end of my stay I wanted to scream when I heard them mention MDF!
Reading your website I can see you have loads of support and people rooting for you,so just keep that in mind,keep positive and keep smiling!!
All the best Jean
Hi Adrian
Hi i am andy cachpool's son i am 12 i have watched your vido diarys on you tube. I hope evrything is going ok with the transplant and you can be up and livin a normal life again soon.So you can get back to work and be having fun with your frends again.Me and my little brother my mum and dad hope you get better soon good look and KEEP SMILING :-).
Hi Adrian,
I'm one of the Biomedical Scientists that does your full blood counts down here on H floor!
I've been watching your video diary and reading your blog and I think you are a truly amazing, inspirational person.
It's fantastic to see things from a patients' point of view, as working in the lab we only see the analyzers and the numbers!
So thanks for keeping us in touch with your progress and keep up that positive attitude,
it's second to none!
All the best, Mel
Hi mate ...
I messaged you a few weeks ago. Just to say it's good to hear you're out of hospital. I know from my own experience what a log and frustrating time it can be gradually building up your strength again. Just take your time, and when people ask how you are, the answer is always the same: "A little bit better than yesterday, but not quite as good as tomorrow!"
Good luck again. You're a life member of this club now, and we all stick together.
Hi Adrian,
I can't say how moving it has been to read and watch your blog. My wife Donna was diagnosed with Leukemia in February this year. Of course this came as a complete shock and was absolutley devasting. Going through the process of hospitalisation and treatment is, a difficult period and one becomes an expert on the illness. But your blog has help me with the emotional side of the disease. To watch someone you love go through this is extremely hard but to see you talk about the difficult issues that come with it has been more helpful than anything.
Donna has suffered the side effects of chemo and nearly lost her life after an infection. But now faces the prospect of a stem cell transplant. It is awful for anyone to imagine the thought of radiotherpay without then having to face the further worry of gvhd as well as a shortened life span.
I wish you every luck in battling your illness and thank you for helping me to talk to Donna about the difficult path ahead.
Very best regards
Greg & Donna
Good site! I'll stay reading! Keep improving!
Hi Adrian, I just want to wish you all the best for the transplant. I think that the way you are coping is a real inspiration to anyone reading your blog. I'm just so glad that you have a wonderful fiance in Poppy, and also family and friends to help you through. Although I don't know a lot about all the ins and outs of treating cancer, I have had relatives with cancer and I myself have been suffering from Crohn's disease for the past 17 years, since I was a kid. I've had 6 major bowel operations and nearly lost my life several times over, and so know what a huge impact having a serious illness has on a life, but I know that I'm really lucky to be here. I hope this doesn't freak you out, but two years ago when I was fighting for my life in the high dependency unit a stranger came to me and hung up an angel doll on my drip stand and wrote me an angel poem, and I don't know why, but afterwards I somehow felt a presence like some thing was there with me, willing me to live. I now believe in angels, even though I'm not actually religious and I will never know if there was angel there or not, but it gives me some comfort to believe that there was. I really hope this doesn't sound like I'm preaching to you, as I don't mean to. I wish you all the very very best. Take care of you, hugs Ruth x
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