Rory
Rory, aged 8, was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) in November 2009.
Rory lives with his mum, dad and older brother Calum (aged 10) in Portland, Dorset. His nearest principal treatment centre (PTC) is Southampton General Hospital. He has also had treatment at Dorset County Hospital and underwent a Bone Marrow Transplant at the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.
- A round trip from Rory’s home to Southampton is 138 miles, which takes more than 3 hours and costs £55.
- Between February and March 2010, Rory needed to travel up to three times a week to either Dorchester or Southampton, a total of 818 miles, at a cost of £327.
- From May to July 2010, Rory travelled 2,088 miles for blood tests and medication.
Rory says: “When I was seven, I was diagnosed with AML. I live in Portland, but I had to go to Southampton because they have a special ward for children with cancer. I had to stay in Southampton hospital for six weeks, so my mum and dad took it in turns to come and see me because they had to look after my brother Calum too.
“After six weeks I was moved to Dorchester hospital to be nearer home, but I had to stay in hospital for Christmas and New Year. I had to go back to Southampton in January for more chemotherapy and then back to Dorchester. A nasty chest infection meant I had to go back to Southampton in February and I spent my eighth birthday there.
“I needed a bone marrow transplant, which had to be done in Bristol. I had to stay in hospital for about two months but it was too far for my parents to travel all the time. They stayed at Sam’s House, and my brother could stay there too, so I got visits from all my family once I was out of isolation.
“After I had my transplant we spent even more time going backwards and forwards, but sometimes we would only need to be at the hospital for a short time.
“I didn’t like the journeys. We had to be in Southampton for 10am so I had to get up really early. I’d be tired and nervous. Sometimes I would feel sick so didn’t want to eat and drink during the journey, even though the doctors told me I should.
“I also had to have blood tests and medicines through my central line at our local hospital in Dorchester every week, which meant I spent even more time in the car.
“It’s been nice that some things can be done at home when Jane (the community nurse) comes. It would be nice if even more things could be done at home.”