Ian's story - Part 1

A devoted husband to Sarah and a proud dad to Effie (15) and Thea (17), Ian had always been the picture of health. He worked as a gardener for the council for 15 years and loved nothing more than family life, taking his daughters to dance lessons, making flapjack and enjoying everyday moments that create lasting memories. 

Ian was rarely unwell and had never been in hospital. That’s why, when he suddenly started to feel faint at work and noticed a lump behind his ear, he knew something wasn’t right. Using machinery like chainsaws made dizziness a real concern, so he went to his GP. 

The Locum Doctor immediately suspected Leukaemia. Blood tests were taken, and later that evening Ian received news that his white blood count was dangerously high. He was urgently referred to the Haematology Centre at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. 

That same night, while Ian and Sarah were processing what was happening, they listened as Effie rehearsed for her show, ironically singing ‘You’re not dead yet’ from Spamalot. When the girls asked how the appointment had gone, Ian and Sarah decided to be honest with them. 

“Telling the children was the hardest thing I have done.” 

The next few days moved fast. Having seen his GP on the Thursday, by Tuesday Ian and Sarah were at Haematology being told Doctors thought it was Lymphoma, a serious but treatable type of blood cancer. They braced themselves for a tough few months. 

But just two days later they were called back. Ian was told to bring an overnight bag and his wife Sarah remembers the dread she felt: 

“I thought oh, something bad is going on.” 

At the Haematology Centre they were taken into a family room. 

“You just know it’s bad news by the look in their eyes, by how close they sit. But they couldn’t have broken it to us any better.” 

The diagnosis was devastating; Acute Lymphoblastic T-Cell Leukaemia. 

Chemotherapy was started with the hope of preparing Ian for a stem cell transplant. It appeared to go well with Ian feeling well, no sickness and no hair loss. But the treatment didn’t work. Ian was told he was now terminal and had less than 12 months to live. Ian recalls: 
 
“It was really hard seeing Sarah’s face.” 

Once again, Ian and Sarah had to sit down with their daughters and share the worst possible news. 

The Consultant presented a few options with a slim chance of working and as no one was ready to give up, a chemotherapy regime called Nectar was chosen. But as it hadn’t been used in Exeter before, first it had to be approved by a national panel, and thankfully it was. 

Ian was warned that the side effects of Nectar were severe, including possible neurological problems. But Ian had nothing to lose, and everything to gain. Treatment began in the run up to Christmas.