L to R: Greg 6 weeks prior to diagnosis looking fit and well, P7 school photo (approx 4 months after diagnosis), meeting Sharleen Spiteri at CLIC Villa in May 2008.

Meet Greg

The following is an extract from a letter written to me by Greg's mum, Jane, and describes how Leukaemia has effected Greg and his family. It speaks of the pain, desperation and battle to manage that goes on in thousands of families across the UK. It is more hard hitting and moving than the facts and figures spouted by charities and the truth is more emotive than anything that I could have imagined - Lee (March, 2009).

Greg was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) in November 2006. Until about three weeks prior to that he had been a normal, healthy boy who hadn't missed a day off school. Aged 11, we took him to the GP with a couple of cuts on his fingers that looked infected and a spot inside his nose. Two courses of antibiotics later and the fact that he had become increasingly pale, along with his very bruised legs, caused by the rugby he played, made our GP suggest a series of blood tests.

Within hours Greg was admitted to the Borders General Hospital and subsequently the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh where a diagnosis was eventually made from the bone marrow check, four days later.

Life seemed to change forever at that point and the feeling of numbness and a failure as parents took over. Chemotherapy started straight away through a chip which is attached to a portacath connection under Greg's skin in his chest. He also had the first of many blood transfusions. Within days his hair fell out and his body became bent over, with his muscles aching. Nausea was apparent and eating and drinking became very difficult.

His initial hospitalisation was for five weeks, so getting home to travel up and down 3 - 4 times a week was great. This didn't last long when two weeks later he was readmitted very ill with a high temperature and a drop in blood levels. The pattern continues, but becomes much easier to cope with as time goes on. The children just seem 'to cope'. The parents, however, find it hard to sit back and watch the cruelty of such an illness.

Greg is currently on oral chemotherapy tablets every day with seperate courses of steroids and antibiotics. Unless he is 'more unwell' and admitted to Sick Kids; we now take him up once a month where he is examined, has a dose of chemo through the drip and is given the next month's pills. Every 12 weeks he has an anaesthetic and is given chemo into his spine.

Currently his hair is back in and he is keeping fairly well. Treatment lasts just over three years: in Greg's case (approx. March 2010) or two years for a girl of similar age.

CLIC Villa in Edinburgh is a superb home from home for us. Somewhere to stay when Greg is admitted. Staff who are so caring and helpful. Willing to sit down and talk or listen, whatever the requirements, over a coffee. It's great to know that such a facility is there for us as a family when we need it.

Lee Garry meeting Greg at CLIC Sargent's Home from Home in Edinburgh