Dear Good People,below is my story of Cery's Cancer Journey, the full story was handed to the Good People who visited Cerys Garden when it opened last summer. My love to you all. Yours kevin
The story of Cerys’ Cancer Journey, as seen through the eyes of her father Kevin.
Our beautiful beloved daughter Cerys Elen Lewis, born 14 April 1991 in Withybush General Hospital Haverfordwest, died on the 04 August 2010 in the University Hospital, Cardiff.
Cerys’ mother Helen, who is still emotionally effected, has contributed her experiences and thoughts to Cerys’ story.
A year has now past and at the end of the evening Helen sits on Cerys’ bed, talks to her and cries. Her thoughts are with Cerys who is still very much alive to Helen, though as she asks that unanswerable question of why did Cerys at such a young age have to struggle for her life and, after such a brave fight, have it tragically taken from her.
At the start of every day, I open Cerys’ bedroom door and desperately hope to see her there. A hope I will live with until the day that I will die. I wish her “good morning,” I talk about what’s been happening and I tell her I will see her later. Andrew says “good morning” to Cerys every day.
Here follows the story of Cerys’ brave struggle to keep her life and her battle to overcome Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia.
On the 31st of December 2008, Helen phones the surgery as Cerys is unwell and requests a home visit for Cerys. Helen is phoned back by a doctor who is insistent that Cerys attends the surgery. Cerys, who becomes anxious when having to leave her home, chose not to attend.
On the 5th of January 2009, Helen phones the surgery again as Cerys is still unwell, very unwell. Dr A Evans visits; his advice is that Cerys visits the surgery the following day for bloods to be taken.
On the 6th of January 2009 and with Cerys very physically weak and requiring Helen’s physical assistance to get ready, she knew that she had to attend the surgery. Although Helen was told on the phone that Cerys would be seen straight away, Cerys was kept waiting, despite requests by Helen to the receptionist for her to be seen.
Cerys was made to sit in the waiting room with a continuous nose bleed and feeling very unwell and very anxious, Cerys needed the toilet and was taken by Helen due to Cerys being very weak, she collapsed on to the floor. Cerys was kept waiting for twenty minutes, until the member of staff was ready to take Cerys’ blood.
Later that afternoon Dr A Evans phoned he told us Cerys’ situation was serious and we are told to take Cerys to Ward 10 Withybush Hospital.
Here we are told by Dr Harry Grubb (Consultant Haematologist) that Cerys had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia and that Cerys will shortly be transferred to the University Hospital of Wales to commence chemotherapy treatment.We found out later that the NHS in Wales did not allow WithybushHospital to administer chemotherapy treatment.
We endeavoured to console ourselves and come to terms with the reality of Cerys’ diagnosis. The fact is we never came to terms with the fact that Cerys had Leukaemia, but remained positive and brave for Cerys. The medical team commenced with stabilising Cerys’ condition and we reassured Cerys that everything would be fine. We left Cerys to go and get provisions to take to Cardiff.On the way we called at Helen’s brother Warren’s house and his family, who live near the hospital. Before I went in I phoned family and friends in tears, to tell them that Cerys had been diagnosed the Leukaemia. I remember the shock they expressed in their voices and their offers of support. Here in total emotional turmoil we told Warren & his wife Mel that Cerys had Leukaemia. How we all cried, their support at this moment was very important to us.
On the way home, I needed to get fuel. After filling up at the ASDA pumps, I went in to the garage to pay the woman behind the counter, but the word Leukaemia was overwhelming and too big a word to keep in my head and I had to tell her that my daughter Cerys had just been diagnosed with Leukaemia. This woman was Ursula and from that day we remain friends.
After collecting provisions from home, we headed back to Cerys at Withybush Hospital. The evening was very cold and I do not remember anything about what happened on Ward 10. However, I do remember Cerys being wheeled out to the ambulance and the picture of this critically ill and frail looking young woman was wheel chaired into the ambulance, Helen following her. Andrew was with me and as we gave them our love and told them we would see them the following day, the doors closed and with the cold wind surrounding us, we watched the ambulance under blue lights drive away. I felt empty and devastated, but I knew I had to stay strong for Cerys, Helen, Kyle and Andrew.
