My name is Grace Pursall Ward. I am 27 years old and I live with my lovely husband Matthew. In September 2014, at the age of 25, I was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML). I had three rounds of chemotherapy at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire, and in February 2015 I had an allogenic stem cell transplant at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham using stem cells donated by my amazing older sister, Katherine. The week of my diagnosis I was due to commence my final year of a BSc in Midwifery at Coventry University, something which I am determined to complete as soon as I am capable. In 2011 I graduated with a 2.1 BA(Hons) in American Literature and Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia. In July 2015, I adopted a collie cross called Leo. I thought there must be something auspicious about having Leo after cancer and thus this blog was started 158 days after my transplant, when I remain in complete remission from my disease.
I am so proud of my wonderful daughter Grace for this inspirational blog. I hope it helps other who are experiencing cancer x
ReplyDeleteI have been putting off reading this blog for a long time - it belongs to my sister and I feared it would upset me too much reading about her struggles and fears over the last 18 or so months. This evening I made the decision to pull myself together and start reading from the beginning, and could not put it down. It is inspiring, insightful, honest and funny. Grace would have really benefitted from a blog like this when she was going through her treatment and I sincerely hope it finds the people who need it. I am so incredibly proud of Grace, her positive can do attitude, and her ability to reassure me just by being in her company. Love you Grace.
ReplyDeleteYour big sister and now stem cell twin,
Katherine xxxxxxxx