Cambridgeshire
Health and wellbeing, Support for Freemasons and families
Rachel and David’s story
We received this incredibly moving letter from Rachel, a mother whose family was supported through a sudden diagnosis and the COVID-19 pandemic. Rachel has given her permission for us to share this letter.
“Dear Freemasons,
I am writing to you to sincerely thank you for your support over the last year.
Last March our youngest son, Cole was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukaemia – a rare type of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). He underwent ten months of intense chemotherapy involving arsenic trioxide, ACTRA and lumbar chemo.
We alternated between five days a week intense chemo and twice-weekly intense chemo at Addenbrookes Hospital – an hour away from our home.
On top of this the COVID-19 pandemic made everything much harder. It took away our support network as well as restricting hospital visits to one parent. This meant our family of four spent long periods apart.
I am very pleased to say that Cole’s last two bone marrow scans have come back showing no evidence of disease. Remission now seems to be in our sights. He continues to have weekly bloods, monthly consultations and three-monthly bone marrows and every part of us hopes for no relapse.
I wanted to write and thank you for the support you offered us as a family, both financially and personally. You made a very difficult situation a lot easier by enabling us to afford the cost of travel, pay for hospital dinners etc.
I must also compliment the individuals that I spoke to during the process, they were not only understanding but caring and compassionate.
Our family is grateful for your kindness. It is amazing to think that there is an organisation that can offer such support during a really bad time.
Yours sincerely,
David and Rachel”
