In December of last year I recounted my transplant experience from September onwards and although at the time I was reassured that I'd come through the worst of what was to be expected, I was still very uncertain about my health and the immediate problems I would be facing returning to normal life.
The last 5 months have flashed by and luckily, with only a few minor complications to complain about, the Epstein-Barr Virus and Shingles being the most note-worthy. I have been steadily rebuilding my rebooted immune system and in the process I have become stronger and undertaken greater challenges. I came out of hospital after my transplant severely underweight and now through taking care of what I put in my body and regular exercise I feel like I am returning to the person that I was before the relapse.
I was waiting for something significant to occur before admitting to myself that I was heading in a positive direction. I made a few trips to visit friends at University in Plymouth and Durham, but my week with Shingles mentally knocked me back a few steps as I had to spend a week on anti-viral and anti-biotic drugs in hospital. However, during that time an opportunity presented itself to me that I was very interested in. The Teenage Cancer Trust was enquiring as to whether any former patients in the South West would raise money for the charity via the form of a sponsored Skydive and luckily for me, the airfield was only 40 minutes from where I lived. I put my name forward with expectations that it remained highly unlikely that after only 2 weeks of being finished with the last of my immunosuppressive drugs, I would be allowed to make the 10,000 foot jump. To my amazement, my Consultant deemed me able-bodied enough to take part, although he did remind me that in his years working as a Doctor it was unprecedented for someone only 6 months post-Bone Marrow Transplant to want to attempt anything like this.
Undeterred, today at around 1pm I found myself almost 2 miles above the ground with not a single butterfly in my stomach as the door to the plane was pulled open and I sat with my legs dangling over the side of the aircraft. 11 months ago I was lying in my hospital bed losing weight daily, beginning my cycles of intense chemotherapy and today I was fulfilling a dream I'd had for a very long time with the liberating realisation that very very little can scare me anymore. Although I wasn't nervous, the adrenaline was definitely pumping and I will never forget tumbling out towards the ground in free fall and looking up at the plane flying back into the clouds, it was a rush that I've experienced very few times in my life but I hope not for the last time!
I'm hugely grateful to every single person who made today possible for me, from my ever supportive family to the doctors and nurses who've rebuilt me. I'm especially appreciative to all those who donated to my Just Giving Page and if anyone feels so inclined to donate who hasn't already, then I've left the link at the bottom of this post.
Not so long ago I didn't think that it would be possible to feel the way I do right now. I'm pleased to say that for me cancer hasn't been the end of a normal life as I genuinely thought for a very long time was the case. It's been a long and seemingly impossible process and I'm sure that I'll have many more challenges to come in my future, but I'm now definitely on the up metaphorically and maybe literally as well, because worryingly for my parents, I think I've found a new hobby!
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/willsmith96
