Obviously Lab rescues will still benefit as usual....details to follow.
We will still have a sponsored event ( like the waddle / toddle) with a ' justgiving' page posted on the www in advance, that will allow you to relieve all your friends and family's cash for your efforts, before the big day ....again will post details soon.
We hope you like our chosen charities and that they will be well supported.
Rhoni, fantastic choice
With Julie suffering from ITP all through her pregnancy and knowing how ill she was, this is definitly a charity very close to LF members hearts.
Without the help of the ITP specialists and the fantastic staff at Glouscester hospital, things could have been so very different for Julie and Isabella.
I think its a lovely way of saying thanks to them for keeping our 2 special ladies safe and sound for us.
For any peeps who don't know why we have chosen these charities, here is Julie and Daves fantastic, and heart rending story.....
Taken from an earlier post ...
''Hi All,
OK - where do i begin.. (i'll try not to make it too long)
In about June of 1999 i developed an annoying dry cough which just wouldn't go away...and persisted for 18 months. Throughout this time, i also had dizzy spells, flashing lights so visited my gp on 9 occasions. Asthma & migraine were diagnosed, but a few aspirin and an inhaler didn't seem to help.
We got married in June 2000, and 6 months later around Christmas time, i was getting severe chest pain & hot sweats, and my lymph nodes appeared to be up. I went to visit my GP again, as my mum suggested i should ask for an x-ray. I left work early and went straight to my gp (who by this time wasn't too caring and made me feel like i was imagining things!) and i asked her for an x-ray. She was very reluctant, i will always remember her words, 'the mood i'm in i'll agree to anything' she said. Well, at least i got my x-ray, and was given a card for a walk in appointment at my local hospital.
This is where it all began, as Dave & I queued for an x-ray, we watched as people who were in the queue, go in, come out and then they were asked to see their gp's in a weeks time. However, when it came to my turn, i had the x-ray taken and was then called into a separate room of the ward.
The x-ray showed something sinister looking in my chest/lung area. The doctors started testing immediately, bloods to begin with - and the following week a CT scan, bronchoscopy, bone marrow biopsy, & chest biopsy at last i had a diagnoses to my 'cough'. I had stage 4 (advanced) Hodgkins Lymphoma. (Cancer)
I had a large tumour in my chest and it was also in my spleen.
In April 2001, i started 6 months of chemotherapy, not too pleasant but after the first initial few treatments, a CT scan showed that the tumour was shrinking! Hooray! After the final treatment, we eagerly awaited the next CT scan to see what was happening to the cancer. Unfortunately, my body hadn't taken too well to all the treatment, and just 2 weeks after my final treatment due to a weakened immune system i developed pneumonia in both my lungs. This was the worst point for me as i couldnt talk! lol! After a 2 month touch and go stay in hospital, after physiotherapy i 'learnt' how to manage my breathing and was allowed home, however remained on continuous oxygen for a further 2-3 months at home.
Whilst in hospital, i had also had another CT scan. Unfortunately, the 6 months of chemotherapy had failed and the cancer was worse. I now had 2 very large tumours in my chest & lining of my heart. The only option was to have a Stem Cell Transplant & salvage chemo, to try to rid me of this illness.
In Jan 2002, once again i had an extremely bad turn. This, once again was due to my weak immune system, and by now my levels were dangerously low.. and i was rushed into hosp for a month. For most of this i wasn't really with it...
In Feb, i was transferred to a specialist hospital (The John Radcliffe in Oxford) ready for my SCT. I was given a 50/50 chance of walking out alive! Everyday i was thankful for, and when i made it through the treatment, it was an amazing feeling to 'walk' from the hospital 6 weeks later. In April 2002, i followed up the treatment with a month of radiotherapy.
Now for the good news
I was put on a 'watch & wait' which means basically that, watching and waiting to see what would happen. I'm delighted to say, that in December 2003, i was declared to be in remission! The treatment was a success, and we had an amazing time at Christmas to celebrate! Now i have scar tissue & damaged lungs but my 6 monthly follow ups have showed no change. (I've another one tomorrow funnily enough!)
It was my lovely hubby Dave, and my sister Jen, that got me through those difficult years, and some pretty great friends and family - and i am eternally grateful for everything they did for me.
In June 2003 whilst out for a meal to celebrate our wedding anniversary, we got chatting about the future (hadn't heard the big R word at that time but i was feeling good!) and i mentioned to Dave, why don't we sell the house and go travelling! To my amazement, he didn't hesitate, and said - yes, ok then! Approximately 7 days later, our house went up for sale and we started planning our travels!
In Feb 2004 after selling the house and all our belongings, we departed in our lovely motorhome for a tour of Europe. We visited France, Spain, Gibralter, Italy, Sicily, Austria, Switzerland, Germany & toured all through The Pyrenees. It was in April 2004 whilst in France, that we talked about getting a furry companion. We had discussed it years before, but work hadn't left much room to care for a dog. After searching around, we discovered an English Breeder in Normandy, who just so happened to have two black lab puppies left!! (Lab's were our favourite breed)
We picked up our little chap, when he was 10 weeks old.. and named him Bradley. Through having Brad, and being first time dog owners we had lots to learn, so website guru Dave agreed to setting up a website for Labrador Lovers to enable us to learn more about this lovely breed, and share hints and tips with other lab owners. In August 2004, LabForums was born!
So here we all are.. i now not only have my health, but we have a beautiful lab & an extended family of lab lovers through the forums. To say we are happy is an understatement!
Someone once told me during my 'bad' days, that their were sunnier days ahead - i can now definately agree with that!
Hope i haven't gone on too long... apologies if i have! lol.
Thanks for reading.. and what i will say, is if you are ill or feeling unwell, never give up.
All the best,
Julie x ''
Then.............................
A miracle....Julie fell pregnant early last year....a medical phenon.....fernom...perno......sod it...quirk.....but she was quickly struck down by ITP a blood disorder that was life threatening for her and their baby. Julie spent many months in hospital. The condition prevented a 'C' section and they had to run the gauntlet of a natural birth.
All of LF were praying and hanging on every post for an update.
Baby Isabella arrived, after a battle....both were very poorly. Julie is still recieving treatment.
Thanks for re-posting Julie's story, though am in tears again as always after reading that! Don't care - I'm gonna be mushy - Julie, Dave, Isabella and Bradley - you are AMAZING!
You peeps are so lovely! Thanks for your kind words everyone.. we are so lucky and so blessed to have baby Isabella.. it's like a dream we never thought would ever happen.
THANK YOU also for choosing these charities. We are touched!
I don't really know what else to say.... thank you so much!
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You peeps are so lovely! Thanks for your kind words everyone.. we are so lucky and so blessed to have baby Isabella.. it's like a dream we never thought would ever happen.
