Patient Will McGookin made a very special return trip this week to the stem cell transplant unit at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre – Liverpool.
Just under four years ago, Will spent almost 10 weeks there as a patient. He had a stem cell transplant – using cells donated by his brother – after being diagnosed with myelodysplasia (MDS), a rare type of blood cancer.
His stem cell transplant meant he was so vulnerable to infection that he had to spend most of his time in isolation, so Will came up with ingenious ways to keep himself entertained and connect with loved ones by making funny videos for social media.
Since then, Will has continued his cancer treatment and enjoys spending his free time on hobbies such as creating beautifully intricate wire bonsai trees. Each bonsai tree is handcrafted and takes him two to three weeks to make.
But he has never forgotten his time on the stem cell transplant unit. So, to mark this Blood Cancer Awareness Month, Will decided to auction off some of his bonsai trees to raise money for gifts and care packs for patients there now. And this week Will returned to donate cakes and care packs for patients having stem cell transplants, as well as to say thank-you to staff on the unit.
“I really wanted to give something back,” said Will. “I’d raised around £35,000 when I was in hospital but I felt the need to do something else now as well. I have a YouTube channel where I talk about my hobbies of koi and bonsai so I decided to reach out to the koi community to raise money to help people having stem cell transplants. Obviously I go back to Clatterbridge regularly for blood tests and treatment but this was the first time I’d been back on the stem cell transplant unit since I’d left. It felt a bit weird walking back on there but it was good to be able to do something nice for people who are there now.”
Stem Cell Transplant Advanced Nurse Practitioner Julie Grant said: “Patients absolutely loved the care packs and treats that Will brought in for them and all the staff on the unit were delighted to see Will again. It was such a thoughtful and generous thing for him to do and patients really appreciated it.”
he makes them by hand
