Telford leukaemia patient raises cash for unit

Hannah was just 18 when she was first diagnosed with cancer of the white blood cells.

Despite undergoing eight months of chemotherapy at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital the disease returned a few months later, and she underwent a stem cell transplant.

Hannah, from St Georges in Telford, said she was initially told by doctors that her blood count was so low they were amazed she was still standing. But she has been in remission for two-and-a-half years and has handed over more than £1,000 to staff at the haematology unit at RSH as a thank you for the treatment and care she received.

Hannah, a logistics administrator at Lyreco in Telford, said: "I was going to the doctors for about eight months with blisters on my legs and tummy.

"They kept giving me antibiotics but as soon as I'd finished the course the blisters kept coming back. I got so tired and weak that I couldn't lift anything so they thought I was anaemic.

"They did a blood test and that's when they found out I had leukaemia. My blood count was so low they said they didn't know how I was standing. I got the all-clear but a couple of months later it came back and I had to have a stem cell transplant. I've now been in remission for two-and-a-half years.

"It was really tough going through all the treatment. I lost my hair and I was very sick and weak and was in and out of hospital for a long time.

"I was in the haematology ward for about a month and then went back every couple of days for treatment and all the staff are brilliant there."

The cash was raised at a tribute night, auction and raffle at the Maddocks Sports and Social Club in Oakengates on September 20. It will be used to help renovate the ward.