My background

My name is Sue and I was born in Liverpool in 1952. I attended Holly Lodge High school and left in 1970 when I went to work as a library assistant in Huyton for 3 years. I left just before my 21st birthday and spent the next few years travelling and working on and off in various jobs. In 1978 I started training as a nurse at Broadgreen hospital and in September of that year married Nick. Our first son Gareth was born in 1980 and a few months later we moved to London where Nick had started work as a computer programmer. 8 months after arriving in London Adam was born a month prematurely. We moved to Highbury in 1981 and our sons attended Ambler Primary and Islington Green schools.

In 1990 I started to work for a charity that provided a 12 step model of treatment for people with drug and alcohol problems. During this time I studied English part time at Birkbeck college, University of London and gained a 2:1 BA (Hons) degree. I wanted to work with children and in 2003 completed an MA in social work at Middlesex university. I then worked for London borough of Lambeth in the substance misuse team before moving to RBKC to work with children and families. My work in RBKC included a year at the Chelsea and Westminster hospital and two years in the adoption team. During the time I was at RBKC I trained for four years at the Institute of Family Therapy and in 2008 was awarded an MSC in systemic psychotherapy. For the last 18 months I have been employed by the London Borough of Islington in the local CAMHS team.

Why I am asking for your help

In September 2010 Nick and I went on holiday to Mexico. We had been there two years previously and had been looking forward to returning to the idyllic paradise of Tulum on the Yucatan peninsula. This time Mexico was just as beautiful but we didn't feel right. Nick had caught a tummy bug and spent the first week unable to eat and sleeping a lot. I had an infected cyst on the back of my neck and had to be prescribed antibiotics. When we returned home I was prescribed more antibiotics and a week later caught a heavy cold. The cold symptoms continued for weeks and I developed a sinus infection for which I was prescribed more anti biotics. I then developed a bladder infection with high fever and had no choice but to take even more antibiotics. Earlier that year I had had a routine blood test which showed that my neutrophils (the white blood cells that fight infection) were low. I had been diagnosed with hepatitis C many years previously and my doctor suspected taht this was the reason for the low blood count. I had been seeing a Chinese herbal practitioner to strengthen my immune system with herbs and acupuncture. I had been reluctant to take anti biotics but an infection can rapidly turn to sepsis in a compromised immune system. My doctor admitted me to hopsoital for tests as he was convinced I had caught a tropical disease. As well as Mexico I had been to India and Nepal in the previous year. All tests proved negative and I was referred to a haematologist. On December 14th 2010 I was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia and admitted to hospital to commence the first of several rounds of chemotherapy. I have now completed 3 rounds of intensive chemotherapy. My consultant suggests a stem cell transplant but I have a rare tissue type and they have not been able to make a match.

I had been seeing a Chinese Medical practitioner and a Gaia healer as I have had chronic Hepatitis C for many years and wanted to help improve my immune system. When diagnosed with leukemia I wanted to treat the condition with a similar approach. Unfortunately AML is an aggressive cancer and the advice we received was that without the chemotherapy I would die very quickly. Although in a great deal of shock we agreed to this but continued to research alternative methods. I had a lot of support and advice from friends and eventually we decided on the living foods diet that Hippocrates Health Institute advocates. We completed a detox at Health Etcetera in March and I am booked in Hippocrates for the end of May. Whilst they do not claim to cure cancer Hippocrates work on the belief that we need to heal the immune system to prevent the cancer from returning. The chemotherapy has effectively destroyed the cancer cells but there is no guarantee from the conventional medics that the cancer will not return. With a healthy immune system any emerging cancer cells will be dealt with before they can progress to doing harm.

What I want

Alternative therapies are not funded on the NHS. I am very grateful for the treatment I have and will continue to receive from the NHS. (One round of chemotherapy costs £30,000). A week's detox costs approximately £1,000. Three weeks at Hippocrates Health Institute is nearly £4,000. I estimate that I will need approximately £100 each month for supplements including fresh wheatgrass. I should save money on my food as I will only be eating raw, unprocessed, sugar free, organic, Vegan vegetables. We have already invested in a range of equipment to create raw dishes. That includes juicers, sprouting jars, a dehydrator and various other bits and pieces. My husband has given up work to care for me and prepare my meals and we are living on my sickness benefits. I will be returning to Health Etcetera and Hippocrates clinics a couple of times a year over the next few years in order to keep the treatments going.

The Future

I fully believe that my immune system will recover and that I will live to continue the work I was born to do. I have deep spiritual beliefs and have a great deal to offer to the world. I have been a Buddhist and studied A Course in Miracles and these practices have contributed to my desire to help others, especially children, fulfill their potential. This year is going to be extra meaningful to us. My elder son, Gareth and his partner Emma are to become parents in mid September. I am beyond proud and delighted. I see this child graduating from university, becoming a parent and I can just about see myself becoming a great grand parent. In addition we have a lot to look forward to this year. My wonderful husband, Nick becomes 60 in July and we are planning a party in Liverpool with friends old and new. My son, Adam, graduates from Central St Martins with a degree in Fine Arts in July. We also plan to take some time out to visit friends and family in the British Isles.

How you can help

Thank you for reading this. I could never imagine the shockingingly horrific way that a cancer diagnosis can change one's life. Neither could I imagine the amount of love and support that would come flooding into my life. Lots of people have offered to make financial contributions and Yes to Life has offered to facilitate this. The treatment is expensive and anything you donate will be very much appreciated.

Namaste