Hi Everyone, Welcome to Trish and Karl’s web site, here is a little bit about their chosen charity and our Sam, the inspiration behind it.
Sam was our second son, born 2 years and 2 months after Ross, on April 22nd 1990. They always had a special bond, very different yet very similar. Ross being the explorer and leader, the athletic and practical one. Sam was the care free, have a go one, who loved facts and remembered them!
They both appreciated and loved where they lived, always interested in and caring for thewildlife and environment.
As they grew up Ross became more artistic always doodling and drawing cartoons and Sam’s love for music grew as he progressed from clarinet to guitar.
All parents think their children are the best – and we were no different, we had 2 wonderful boys.
October 2004, Ross had just started an art course at college and his passion was, and still is skate boarding. Sam was 14 and had just started his GCSE options in year 10; he was in a band, playing rugby, had a girlfriend, had just got a weekend job and had gorgeous long hair – “he was pretty”. Life was good. Then he began to feel unwell with a pain in his side and back.
On December 8th after a few tests and scans we were sat down with the inevitable cup of tea and told he had cancer!
From then on life was very different – and still is. We had no choice but to climb on the “tread mill of treatment”.
Our wonderful boy lost his hair, his job and his independence. We all became governed by treatment schedules and their side effects.
Because of teenagers’ natural hormones, growth spurts and the nature of their cancers, the treatment is very intense and aggressive, which results in long stays in hospital.
Sam was always aware of his body and would know if his temperature was up and an infection brewing. He knew the importance of getting it treated a.s.a.p, not wanting to go into hospital again, but knowing he had to. Likewise with his chemo and radiotherapy he knew it was going to make him feel sick and poorly, but realised it had to be done, there was no option.
He was always polite to staff and aware of the routine – but would quite often shut off, curl up and sit it out – he called it his time “in the slammer”. During his 3 week treatment cycles more time was spent in hospital than out. It really becomes a second home with the staff your extended family.
When he was home, his friends supported and looked after him and included him in normal teenage activities. We all tried to make life as good as possible. Ross was always there for him – to chat, watch silly videos with, eat cereals in the middle of the night, take him in for blood tests, pick him up after nights out with his mates and once he took him for a midnight pizza before rolling up on the children’s ward for his next week of treatment! The staff were expecting him and couldn’t get annoyed they knew the tough regime facing him. Besides which his big smile was always a winner!
School, then later college, were very supportive always realising if Sam was well enough to go in, it was as a social event with no pressure. Despite this, with the help of home tutors he managed an A* in his English Literature GCSE! He always had an amazing vocabulary and knew when and where to use it! (He would have written this a lot better than we are doing).
Sam’s time in hospital was on a children’s ward, where he was isolated in a single room with no access to the internet, limited mobile phone signal and where the television went off at 9pm. The food was unappetising, just its smell would intensify his nausea. Being able to listen to music on his i-pod was his one saving grace.
His initial chemotherapy was for a year; midway through which he also had radiotherapy which was away from home. For these 7 weeks we were looked after by CLIC Sargent in one of their Home from Homes. Sam was at his lowest physically at this point, but it was here he had contact with other teenagers and his spirit was always lifted when he was in their company. We all took turns in staying with Sam. Hours were spent walking the streets, pacing the hospital corridors passing the time, in between keeping Sam company, trying to make him comfortable and making up a meal that hopefully he might fancy and be able to keep down.
Sam also met another teenager who was going through a similar regime as him and they became very close. If they happened to be in hospital together on the children’s ward it was great. They would go into each others room and just talk about teenage stuff. It made that stay much more tolerable for them, the staff and for us. Their friendship continued when they were both in remission and when they both relapsed and were faced with more facts, decisions and treatment. Just an understanding of each others ‘life’ made a great bond between them through their journeys.
He was in remission for 10 months then the cancer returned. Another 5 months of intense treatment followed, which sadly only gave him a few weeks.
Sam was always included in any discussions or plans about his cancer and treatment; we all knew his cancer was aggressive and advanced when diagnosed and that it would be a battle. It was a true roller coaster of events and emotions. Sam certainly took it head on. It is very frightening as you step on board the unknown. You stay positive and always hope you have a return ticket, but sadly for Sam his was a one way only. We did have good times as well; Sam always had time for others and always saw the good in them. We are indebted to him as we have all made so many friendships because of his illness, friendships which are a comfort and a pleasure.
It was only during his last treatment that we became aware of Teenage Cancer Trust. Sam and Ross went together to their ‘Sense of Tumour Conference’ and to one of their famous Royal Albert Hall Concerts. At both events they participated in the music workshops. Sam was inspired by all the cancer and ex-cancer teenagers at these events. They were all having fun yet sharing a common bond.
The aim of Teenage Cancer Trust is to have enough specialised Teenage Units, for 13 – 24 year olds, in regional national health hospitals throughout the UK, so that all teenagers with cancer have access to one. These units are lead by specialised staff, they are contained units where these young people not only have their treatment, but they can do their thing at any time of day (or night) and cook and eat when they feel like it. Most importantly they allow them to be with fellow peers going through similar treatments where they can share their experiences and not feel alone and isolated. Teenage Cancer Trust also provides family support for parents and siblings, plus continuing support for these young people after their treatment. They also have education teams who visit schools to teach pupils about healthy living and cancer awareness.
Sam had fantastic treatment by a wonderful team but we know if he had been treated in a specialised teenage unit it would have helped him psychologically and made the whole experience more tolerable for him.
Sadly six teenagers a day in the UK are being diagnosed with cancer, this is now higher than the incidence in children. Trish and Karl are taking on this epic adventure to raise money for Teenage Cancer Trust to help make these young peoples journey less frightening. We are very grateful to them and know Sam would be ‘well impressed’. Please give them your full support in this worthwhile venture. Thank you, Kevin and Jane
Hi Everyone, Welcome to Trish and Karl’s web site, here is a little bit about their chosen charity and our Sam, the inspiration behind it. 
October 2004, Ross had just started an art course at college and his passion was, and still is skate boarding. Sam was 14 and had just started his GCSE options in year 10; he was in a band, playing rugby, had a girlfriend, had just got a weekend job and had gorgeous long hair – “he was pretty”. Life was good. Then he began to feel unwell with a pain in his side and back.
School, then later college, were very supportive always realising if Sam was well enough to go in, it was as a social event with no pressure. Despite this, with the help of home tutors he managed an A* in his English Literature GCSE! He always had an amazing vocabulary and knew when and where to use it! (He would have written this a lot better than we are doing).
His initial chemotherapy was for a year; midway through which he also had radiotherapy which was away from home. For these 7 weeks we were looked after by CLIC Sargent in one of their Home from Homes. Sam was at his lowest physically at this point, but it was here he had contact with other teenagers and his spirit was always lifted when he was in their company. We all took turns in staying with Sam. Hours were spent walking the streets, pacing the hospital corridors passing the time, in between keeping Sam company, trying to make him comfortable and making up a meal that hopefully he might fancy and be able to keep down.
Sam was always included in any discussions or plans about his cancer and treatment; we all knew his cancer was aggressive and advanced when diagnosed and that it would be a battle. It was a true roller coaster of events and emotions. Sam certainly took it head on. It is very frightening as you step on board the unknown. You stay positive and always hope you have a return ticket, but sadly for Sam his was a one way only. We did have good times as well; Sam always had time for others and always saw the good in them. We are indebted to him as we have all made so many friendships because of his illness, friendships which are a comfort and a pleasure.