MACCA – Fighting for a better life!

One day Macca was playing a game of hockey and the next his life was turned upside down when diagnosed with a rare blood disease, quickly leading to Leukaemia. Extensive hospital stays, chemotherapy, stem cell transplants and bone deterioration have troubled him ever since. Having fought to survive Leukaemia, Macca now has the on-going daily fight for a better life. After battling with the council to fund crucial alterations to his house, support was declined, expecting him to fund it himself with no income. In addition to the alterations, he is in need of an electric wheelchair, a car hoist, access ramps and a stair lift.

Please help us raise money to give Macca the quality of life that he deserves and maintain some mobility and independence once more.

After initially being diagnosed with the rare blood disease Myelodysplastic syndrome, this quickly developed into Acute Myeloid Leukaemia in August 2008; discovered whilst donating blood. Chemotherapy began imminently. The hospital became an integral part of Macca’s life, where he often had to remain between treatments due to several infections. All looked positive until his relapse in January 2009, where his only option was to find a bone marrow donor - chemotherapy was no longer the answer for a cure. Thankfully, a suitable donor was discovered in August 2009. Macca underwent weeks of radiotherapy before his 8 week hospital stay to undergo the transplant, accompanied by infection after infection. Sadly, one of the infections caused permanent kidney damage, which has led to Macca undergoing dialysis three times every week.

The illness has caused many long term side effects, including the inability to eat for 3 years (graft v host disease), where he was tube fed. Avascular Necrosis is the deterioration of his blood vessels feeding the bones, which has caused degeneration of both knees and is now affecting his elbow joints. Due to this, Macca has had his left leg amputated above the knee and a knee replacement in his right leg. Unfortunately, his fight continues and he needs our help for a better life!