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Ben was diagnosed December 8^th 2000.  Unfortunately he had to spend a lot of Christmas in the Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham but as with all of his treatment he didn’t let this hold him back and enjoyed it as much as he could.  Ben was 10 at the time of diagnosis.  It goes without saying that it was a shock to the whole family but the way Ben handled the situation and just got on with life enabled us all to carry on (as you have to!).  Ben’s older brother Luke was 13 at the time and younger brother Ross was 7.  They were brilliant and helped Ben as much as they could. 

Ben received chemotherapy for six months for Leukaemia during which time he was in and out of hospital.  He would have to go in for blood transfusion, platelets, chemotherapy and antibiotics.  On numerous occasions the nurses form the hospital would ring saying that we needed to take Ben in to have a blood transfusion which was a surprise as we would have to go and find him because he would be out playing on his bike or scooter, when apparently he shouldn’t have had the energy to do it!  This was Ben and what a strong character he was. 

He carried on with things, as I have said, and didn’t let anything stand in his way. He was a dedicated Derby Fan and would do anything to watch them play.  Even if it meant putting chemotherapy off until 2 in the morning he would do it.  The nurses had to work around football! 

Rammie (the Derby mascot) visited Ben in hospital and brought signed photos etc.  He promised Ben that he could be a mascot at a Derby V Forest match but unfortunately Ben didn’t get the opportunity to do it.  After he died Rammie arranged for Ross (also a Derby season ticket holder) to lead the team out in honour of Ben.  What a day, Derby won 4-2. 

Ben relapsed in March 2002.  The next step in treatment was a bone marrow transplant which took place at Sheffield Children’s Hospital in Nov 2002.  For various reasons the transplant didn’t work and Ben had a top up of the donor’s cells.  This meant that a stranger had taken the time to go into hospital twice to donate the cells.  For this we are extremely grateful. The top up didn’t work.  I spent most of the year in hospital with Ben, and Darren had to travel back and forwards every day and night.  Family looked after Ross and Luke.  Still any chance he got Ben would be out of hospital.  He never gave up.  After an operation Ben spent 7 weeks in intensive care but lost his fight Nov 13^th 2003 aged 13.