Hi All - I just wanted to look in on everyone to say hello and see how everyone is doing. There are so many new members here, many of who I don't know, so just to recap - my Son, Aaron, was diagnosed with CML when he was 15 (he is now 23!). He very quickly progressed to Accelerated Phase and then eventually Blast Crisis with Blast Cells spilling over into his CNS spinal fluid. It was a very scary time for my Husband, James and myself. Not least because we had two small children aged 2 & 3 at the time.
At the time it was virtually unheard of for children to get CML and the only support and information I could get was from this wonderful site.
To cut a long story short Aaron underwent a MUD bone marrow transplant at Birmingham Children's Hospital, he sat his GCSE's in hospital, passed his A levels and has since gone on to complete his university degree and is now in full time work. This is a very watered down version of our story as many of the older members will remember Aaron's struggles with GVHD following transplant, however for us, it's a success story which sometimes when things are tough is what we sometimes need to hear.
I set up the Children with CML website some years ago but unfortunately had to recently close it due to unfortunate 'bug' problems with the site. Thankfully with Facebook and Twitter there are now many other avenues to get in touch with people and glean information. There is a Children with CML Facebook page.
With very best wishes
Jayne Lister (Mum of Aaron Bullingham)
