A dad who began to experience fatigue, thirst and pains has been overwhelmed with support after a devastating diagnosis.
Gareth Dixon previously spoke out about his struggles to get a GP appointment when he began to feel unwell earlier this year. But when he began to experience chest pains as well as hip and eye socket pain, his family insisted he call 111 before heading to Warrington Hospital A&E.
During the 20-hour wait in the emergency department, he claims that a doctor told him to chase up an appointment with his GP. But refusing to leave until he had been given a blood test, Gareth was eventually diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer - Plasma Cell Leukaemia.
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Having been told it was terminal, Gareth and his loved ones immediately set out a bucket list of things he wants to complete. The fundraiser has since "gone crazy" as friends, family and strangers alike have been showing their support.
Gareth has been ticking things off of his bucket list, including going on a boat trip and visiting Loch Ness and sleeping in a castle as well as experiencing a fishing trip. Sadly, those goals were put on hold when Gareth, who is getting treatment at the Clatterbridge centre, developed sepsis.
But the support keeps pouring in as Laura told the ECHO: "Gaz has been extremely poorly due to the side effects from the high dose of chemotherapy he had and then his cells took longer to graft due to Gaz getting sepsis. He has finally turned a corner and will hopefully be home.
"His bucket list GoFundMe has surpassed our expectations, everyone has been so generous. We are still hoping to get some more things ticked off just all depends on Gaz's treatment and how he is feeling. He has to be careful for three months after getting out of hospital due to his immune system being so low."
The fundraiser has surpassed its £5,000 target, sitting at £7,900 as the family say they are "overwhelmed" with the generosity. Laura previously said: "Even complete strangers, not just friends and family, have been donating and leaving lovely messages on the fundraising page and it just touches me. Especially how things are at the moment, not everyone can afford to donate but people have still been putting money on, I'm just amazed."
Gaz has been receiving his treatment in isolation, with family visiting through zoom and windows. Set up by father-in-law Mike Byrne, the fundraiser reads: "He is currently undergoing extensive Chemotherapy in preparation for a stem cell transplant. This will require him to be in isolation for a month and result in him being very unwell, there is no guarantee this will work and even if it does result in some remission, it will only be for a short while.
"We hope to get him a Go-Pro, so he can keep us up to date on his progress and because his condition is so rare share some of his experiences to help others. Gaz is a strong young man just about to celebrate his 40th Birthday, as a family we are heartbroken and would love to raise some money for Gareth and my daughter Laura so they can build memories and tick some things off that Gaz would love to do.
"I asked Gareth about this campaign and though a little reluctant at first, he understands that people may want to help. We are looking to raise some money in small donations so that the cumulative effect can let him pay for trips he simply could not afford now as he has lost his income.
"On his wish list, the initial idea he suggested was a bit whacky and we put that down to the cocktail of drugs he is on, but I will share it with you anyway. Travel may be difficult as we have yet to explore the implications of Travel Cover, that said, because Gareth contracted Covid 19 some weeks ago his treatment in hospital has been delayed for about three months, although not ideal and is a setback, it does give him some time to live a little."
To donate, click here.
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