Family of Five.
In June 2018, our lives took an unexpected turn, when our then ten year old son, Benjamin, was diagnosed with Lyme Disease and Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. Over the following fourteen months, we saw Ben undergo three rounds of chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant. Benny relapsed in July 2019 and died in my arms in August, shortly after his twelfth birthday.
In the midst of such devastating loss, I have been writing a memoir, in honour of my son and as a legacy for my two daughters, primarily.
In addition, I hope to tell a story of love, hope, grief and courage; of a family of five, facing unimaginable loss, bringing the inspiration of a boy who dealt with the reality of his illness with dignity and gentle determination, despite knowing the outlook might not be what we all hoped for.
This is a labour of love, detailing our own experience through childhood cancer, including some important points around what is to be expected in hospital and how we coped and continue to try and cope without our boy and brother.
Family of Five is currently being edited and I hope to self-publish in November 2021.