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.Like the Duracell bunny, this Blog just keeps on going.
Last year, Adrian won the best health Blog in the Weblog awards 2007. This year he has been nominated as a finalist in the best UK Blog section. Thank you to those who nominated him. He is way behind at the moment and there are some strong contenders but can we see how far we can get him this year?
For those of you who are curious about the finalists - here's a quick resume.
Young local journalist/web editor gets ill. Complex leukaemia. Starts Blog to describe and explain the disease and treatment. Bone marrow transplant is successful. Post transplant complications set in. Proposes on Christmas eve to long term girlfriend. She accepts. Wedding plans begin in earnest. Fiancee leaves him. Broken heart. Leukaemia comes screaming back. Terminal prognosis. Campaign begins to teach all 17/18 year olds about how simple it is to be a bone marrow donor. Huge petition presented to Downing Street. Support from Gordon Brown, Alan Johnson, Ed Balls. Many media appearances nationally to push campaign. Dies 20 August aged 27. Campaign continues.....and succeeds.
Let's face it. This is a Blog which has changed lives and which will save lives. That will not change by the outcome of this poll. But it would be fun, wouldn't it to see how far we can get? After all, where else will you find life and death issues jockeying for position with central characters like Chesney Hawkes and Sean Bean a dream sequence cameo appearance by the Queen intent on a full wedgie and a phone call from the Prime Minister half way through a showing of Mary Poppins?
Here's the link to the Awards page. http://2008.weblogawards.org/polls/best-uk-blog/ Please support if possible and remember, you can vote once every 24 hours.
Thanks everyone.
Love Kay and Keith
