Post by Dave on May 4, 2013 10:38:40 GMT
I consider myself a very lucky man to know one very special young one, a young man who not only is such a wonderful person, but has inspired me and so many others as he has so bravely battled with illness.
His name is Lewis Starkie and he was just eight years old when I first met him and on the 19/5/2008 he was diagnosed as having Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. Since then he underwent initial chemo treatment at Bristol Children’s Hospital during the months of May and June in 2008.
This was followed up by two intensive chemo courses at the RD&E at Exeter; the first one was done in September and October 2008 and the second one January and February 2009.
After those treatments he was put on a maintenance phase of chemo treatment for the next two and a half years and after that he that his case was reviewed and decisions taken on the next stage if his treatment. He had to have fitted a special device under his armpit to make things better for him to have the chemo treatments. As someone who has watched the effects chemo drugs has on the person who has to have them, I know this young boy has had many bad days, but he is a very brave young boy and a fighter.
It was just after he was diagnosed that I became aware of this little boy and he really touched me as for one so young to have these problems is so very sad and I have found myself asking the same questions I did when Carol found out she had cancer, WHY, WHY WHY.
I was about to go to the bank for my company and walked from the workshop into our shop area to leave the building, there on the other side of the counter was a man who works for one of our customers, a man I have laughed and joked with for over six years before, when I have called into his work place.
I just said hello how are you and his eyes swelled up and I took him outside where he broke down completly, it was early days for him and as would be expected his thoughts were on what the future had install for Lewis. . I talked with him for such a long time, trying to make him see that while his son was very ill, he needed his dad to be strong for him and to join in his fight to try and win the major battle ahead and I was able to let him know how it was for me and where I had got to and that he would get there as well, but first he had to deal with his fears and see that there is always hope and that is what he must have and never give up.
Then I heard that Toddy a Torquay United player had Leukaemia, his is a different form Lewis’s than what Lewis had and the treatment is also different, but I just thought what a great role model Toddy could be to Lewis and so I talked with his dad and suggested that Lewis should be made aware of Chris Todd and how he was winning his battle with cancer, let Lewis see that its not the end of the world and with the right treatment and the real will and fight, it can be overcome. Lewis had been helped a great deal by the Toddy story and wanted to be a mascot for the day at our club. Lewis would have liked to have been able to meet Chris on the day, but he was out is out on loan the day Lewis was going to the club mascot for the day.
While the club was aware that Lewis has Leukaemia and the reason he wanted to be a mascot, they did nothing and said he would have to pay for his own kit to wear on the day. I was rather disappointed by the actions of Torquay United and as at the time I owned a fans forum, I thought I would ask my members if the could help with the cost of the kit.
I was staggered as over £600 was raised for Lewis and as luck would have the forum was holding a carvery at the game on the same day, so not only were we able to buy the kit for Lewis, the forum treated Lewis, his sister and mum and dad to the match day cavery. A new tracksuit, yellow football boots, kit bag and drum lessons were also paid for out of the remaining money.
Lewis had a fantastic day and the team also won the day, but then they always seemed to win if they knew Lewis was in attendance at Plainmoor. I know from talks I had with the club later on, that they wished they had done more on the day for Lewis, but they sure made up for their lack of action when they choose Lewis to be the Wembley mascot for that seasons play-off final.
What an incredible day for Lewis and his family, my eyes still swell up when I look at the pictures taken that day, I love the one where he is beside the club captain leading the team out onto the pitch. Tim Sills scored a goal that day and decided to give Lewis id golden boots he wore during the match. A prized possession for any young man and something one would think Lewis would want to keep forever.
A month or so before that Wembley final I had been contacted by one of my members, he told me about a four year old girl called Megan who also had leukaemia, the very saddest part of the story was that the doctors had given up on her and stopped treating her. I wanted to help in any way I could but was mindful that the forum was a football forum and not every member was going to be happy if I ran appeal after appeal. I did make a post about Megan and one that Lewis’s dad read and before I knew it Lewis was asking if the boots he had received could be auctioned on the forum to raise some money for Megan’s mum and dad who both had stopped working to care for Megan.
I learned even more that day what a wonderful young man Lewis was and I will always remember and treasure the day Lewis and his dad along with me, got to met Megan and her mum and dad and hand over the money that was raised all thanks to Lewis. I took a number of pictures that day and one that has always moved me was a shot of Lewis and Megan cuddling, it was a picture that said we are not two children who are both ill, just two children who want to get better and lead a normal life. Sadly Megan passed away but I know her mum and dad will never forget the kindness showed by Lewis and others.
Lewis finally got to the end of his treatment and was looking so well during the period of treatment and beyond, Lewis and the family have done all in their power to try and live as normal a life as possible. Lewis has for a few years now, been playing cricket and by all accounts is a very good wicket keeper. He has recently suffered a number of injuries and the worst one was being hit very hard in the chest by a cricket ball.
While he seemed to have recoved from that injury, it was clear too Grahame that Lewis was not really right and he took him to the doctor. Lewis was then seen by a consultant at Exeter hospital and a number of tests were carried out on Lewis. What was learned is that Lewis has relapsed and would have to undergo further treatment.
The Bristol hospital where Lewis was going to be treated, found accommodation for the whole family and they ended up having to stay up in Bristol for a good number of months. During this time Lewis picked up a very nasty infection and was very ill indeed, but thankfully being the fighter he is, be beat the infection and was able to carry on having the life saving chemo.
Lewis has to undergo another two and a half years of maintained chemo at Exeter and has not been allowed to attend school since he returned fro Bristol hospital, but last week he was told he can now attend school two days a week and hopefully the day will come when he can attend school fulltime once again.
I have so many pictures of young Lewis I just want all in one place, so here they all are below. I have decided not to put them all in the order they were taken but I’m sure you could work out that order if you wanted to.
His name is Lewis Starkie and he was just eight years old when I first met him and on the 19/5/2008 he was diagnosed as having Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. Since then he underwent initial chemo treatment at Bristol Children’s Hospital during the months of May and June in 2008.
This was followed up by two intensive chemo courses at the RD&E at Exeter; the first one was done in September and October 2008 and the second one January and February 2009.
After those treatments he was put on a maintenance phase of chemo treatment for the next two and a half years and after that he that his case was reviewed and decisions taken on the next stage if his treatment. He had to have fitted a special device under his armpit to make things better for him to have the chemo treatments. As someone who has watched the effects chemo drugs has on the person who has to have them, I know this young boy has had many bad days, but he is a very brave young boy and a fighter.
It was just after he was diagnosed that I became aware of this little boy and he really touched me as for one so young to have these problems is so very sad and I have found myself asking the same questions I did when Carol found out she had cancer, WHY, WHY WHY.
I was about to go to the bank for my company and walked from the workshop into our shop area to leave the building, there on the other side of the counter was a man who works for one of our customers, a man I have laughed and joked with for over six years before, when I have called into his work place.
I just said hello how are you and his eyes swelled up and I took him outside where he broke down completly, it was early days for him and as would be expected his thoughts were on what the future had install for Lewis. . I talked with him for such a long time, trying to make him see that while his son was very ill, he needed his dad to be strong for him and to join in his fight to try and win the major battle ahead and I was able to let him know how it was for me and where I had got to and that he would get there as well, but first he had to deal with his fears and see that there is always hope and that is what he must have and never give up.
Then I heard that Toddy a Torquay United player had Leukaemia, his is a different form Lewis’s than what Lewis had and the treatment is also different, but I just thought what a great role model Toddy could be to Lewis and so I talked with his dad and suggested that Lewis should be made aware of Chris Todd and how he was winning his battle with cancer, let Lewis see that its not the end of the world and with the right treatment and the real will and fight, it can be overcome. Lewis had been helped a great deal by the Toddy story and wanted to be a mascot for the day at our club. Lewis would have liked to have been able to meet Chris on the day, but he was out is out on loan the day Lewis was going to the club mascot for the day.
While the club was aware that Lewis has Leukaemia and the reason he wanted to be a mascot, they did nothing and said he would have to pay for his own kit to wear on the day. I was rather disappointed by the actions of Torquay United and as at the time I owned a fans forum, I thought I would ask my members if the could help with the cost of the kit.
I was staggered as over £600 was raised for Lewis and as luck would have the forum was holding a carvery at the game on the same day, so not only were we able to buy the kit for Lewis, the forum treated Lewis, his sister and mum and dad to the match day cavery. A new tracksuit, yellow football boots, kit bag and drum lessons were also paid for out of the remaining money.
Lewis had a fantastic day and the team also won the day, but then they always seemed to win if they knew Lewis was in attendance at Plainmoor. I know from talks I had with the club later on, that they wished they had done more on the day for Lewis, but they sure made up for their lack of action when they choose Lewis to be the Wembley mascot for that seasons play-off final.
What an incredible day for Lewis and his family, my eyes still swell up when I look at the pictures taken that day, I love the one where he is beside the club captain leading the team out onto the pitch. Tim Sills scored a goal that day and decided to give Lewis id golden boots he wore during the match. A prized possession for any young man and something one would think Lewis would want to keep forever.
A month or so before that Wembley final I had been contacted by one of my members, he told me about a four year old girl called Megan who also had leukaemia, the very saddest part of the story was that the doctors had given up on her and stopped treating her. I wanted to help in any way I could but was mindful that the forum was a football forum and not every member was going to be happy if I ran appeal after appeal. I did make a post about Megan and one that Lewis’s dad read and before I knew it Lewis was asking if the boots he had received could be auctioned on the forum to raise some money for Megan’s mum and dad who both had stopped working to care for Megan.
I learned even more that day what a wonderful young man Lewis was and I will always remember and treasure the day Lewis and his dad along with me, got to met Megan and her mum and dad and hand over the money that was raised all thanks to Lewis. I took a number of pictures that day and one that has always moved me was a shot of Lewis and Megan cuddling, it was a picture that said we are not two children who are both ill, just two children who want to get better and lead a normal life. Sadly Megan passed away but I know her mum and dad will never forget the kindness showed by Lewis and others.
Lewis finally got to the end of his treatment and was looking so well during the period of treatment and beyond, Lewis and the family have done all in their power to try and live as normal a life as possible. Lewis has for a few years now, been playing cricket and by all accounts is a very good wicket keeper. He has recently suffered a number of injuries and the worst one was being hit very hard in the chest by a cricket ball.
While he seemed to have recoved from that injury, it was clear too Grahame that Lewis was not really right and he took him to the doctor. Lewis was then seen by a consultant at Exeter hospital and a number of tests were carried out on Lewis. What was learned is that Lewis has relapsed and would have to undergo further treatment.
The Bristol hospital where Lewis was going to be treated, found accommodation for the whole family and they ended up having to stay up in Bristol for a good number of months. During this time Lewis picked up a very nasty infection and was very ill indeed, but thankfully being the fighter he is, be beat the infection and was able to carry on having the life saving chemo.
Lewis has to undergo another two and a half years of maintained chemo at Exeter and has not been allowed to attend school since he returned fro Bristol hospital, but last week he was told he can now attend school two days a week and hopefully the day will come when he can attend school fulltime once again.
I have so many pictures of young Lewis I just want all in one place, so here they all are below. I have decided not to put them all in the order they were taken but I’m sure you could work out that order if you wanted to.
