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Wills Fight Against Aplastic Anemia

  • Life Post Transplant

      18 July 2020
    Posted by: Sandra Duthie
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    Hi everyone

    We just wanted to update you all almost 6 months post transplant. Wills is looking and feeling really well. Whilst there will always be challenges along the way for right here and now things are going good. We have monthly check ups in Auckland and he is very well managed by the wonderful team up there and down here in Invercargill. He has started back at school for one hour a day and going to be increasing that as he feels better and able to cope with the fatigue. Moving forward the biggest focus will always be on Wills health and for now we are appreciating each day as it comes. A huge thank you yet again for everyone that has supported us, your love and kindness over the past eighteen months has meant the world to Wills and we as a family could not have done it without you.

      2 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

    • 20/07/2020 by Jody

      So glad to hear Wills is feeling well and getting stronger all the time!

    • 08/01/2021 by Sandra

      Absolutely rapt to be reading this - even if it was in July 2020. Hope you are all still doing well . Fantastic job Wills, and your family support is awesome - you are all so very lucky to have each other . Keep well, keep happy and keep valuing every moment for what it is - you are a lesson to us all young man!

  • We are heading South!!

      25 March 2020
    Posted by: Sandra Duthie
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    Hi everyone

    Wills is doing remarkably well after his second transplant, his blood counts are consistently stable and as of Monday he has an almost "normal" blood count. He is feeling and looking really well. The decision has been made by the medical team that we are safer at home in these crazy times we are all experiencing. This decision for me comes with much anxiousness but I understand exactly where they are coming from too. He is immune compromised so even after this 4 week isolation we will still be inside our safe place at home for a while yet. We look forward to catching up with you over the coming months when it will be safe to visit.

    Again thank each and everyone of you for your generosity and kind messages that flood my phone regularly you have all been a huge part of this journey and this means more than I can ever express,

    We are so very proud of our boy - he has fought the biggest battle of his life. at times when things were very scary and unknown he found it within himself to push on through and beat this...and he has!

    Thank you all much love and stay safe everyone xx

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  • 9 days down post transplant

      16 February 2020
    Posted by: Sandra Duthie
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    Hello everyone, and thank you for your continuing support. Since the last update, William’s second round of intensive chemotherapy was completed, killing off his immune system and his own remaining bone marrow once again to make sure the new cells can engraft. The second bone marrow transplant has been transfused and he is currently in the recovery process again. The transplant all went to plan and the new bone marrow had a high cell count which should lead to all signs pointing in the right direction, and while he is still feeling very poorly and is not yet out of the woods, we all hope to see white cells and neutrophils coming through in the next two weeks which would mean the transplant has successfully engrafted this time. Naturally, we are keeping everything crossed so Wills can get on the road to recovery! He is pushing through day by day, and a huge thanks to everybody for their ongoing texts, phone calls, emails, letters and kind thoughts sent.

    :)

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  • A huge Thank you

      2 February 2020
    Posted by: Sandra Duthie

    On behalf of the Duthie family and William himself we would like to extend our deepest gratitude and thanks to those who have so kindly donated any amount to helping us through this tough time. To know that not only friends and family, but also the wider community and people who we do not even personally know want to help us however they can is very humbling, and helps us to remember that we are all of us in this world together, and love and kindness is indeed what makes the ride worthwhile. Wills is currently in another intensive round of chemotherapy due for the second transplant next week, and still has a long road ahead of him with lots of unpleasant times. BUT he is remaining himself and himself is a very determined and wise young man, and in four to five months he should be healing and reasonably well again and that's what we have to look forward to. Sincerely, thank you to everyone, for helping to lift a heavy load off our shoulders and for all your support. With love, The Duthies.

      2 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

    • 02/02/2020 by Diane

      Kia kaha Wills and family...you can do it xx

    • 02/02/2020 by Rachel

      Very well worded sandra, love and hugs to you all. Wills keep fighting wee man, you have this and we are all here supporting and wishing you all the best every day xxxx