Friends of a mum diagnosed with a rare form of cancer held a fundraising football match after she was forced to give up her job caring for a young Vale boy.
Louise Wilson, of Old Bonhill, was recently diagnosed with Follicular Lymphoma, a rare form of cancer most commonly seen in people over the age of 60.
Although the 37-year-old’s cancer is treatable, it’s incurable, and has forced her to give up her job as a healthcare assistant for brave Vale youngster Aaron Hunter who is battling ROHHAD - an extremely rare and complex disease that affects the function of every system and organ within the body.
Louise’s friends decided to take it upon themselves to help her out during her hour of need, with a charity Old Firm football match held at Renton’s Tontine Park on Sunday - and a crowdfunder set up that has already raised more than £1800 to help Louise, husband Dean and daughters Emily, Gracie and Evie.
Humbled by the gesture, Louise told the Lennox: “I’ve had to give up work because I’m very tired, lethargic and achy. I can only walk short distances.
“My friend Sharon Kilpatrick started a crowdfunder which led to other people wanting to help.
“James Edwardson, whose daughter is best pals with one of my daughters, started a conversation with the other coaches at Renton about wanting to help and organised the football match.
“I can’t put into words how thankful I am. James keeps telling me to stop saying thank you, but I don’t know what else I can say. I broke down in tears when I saw him.
“The support I’ve had from the local community as well as my friends and family is amazing.
“James told me that I was always helping other people, so it was about time I let other people help me. Which was something I was really thankful for.
“The support I’ve been given has been really touching. I can’t thank everyone enough.”
Louise was diagnosed with cancer after a range of tests ruled out other health problems from symptoms she had been experiencing.
She explained: “I had been feeling very tired and achy for about six months.
“When I first went to my GP they looked down the arthritis route because my dad and gran both had that.
“The blood tests came back fine from that.
“Two months ago I started to get a sharp pain in my right-hand-side. Up and around my ribs.
“My GP sent me straight up to the RAH where they thought I had an infected gallbladder. But those tests came back fine as well.
“I was eventually sent for an ultrasound where they said the gallbladder was fine but that they had spotted quite a few lymph nodes floating around.
“I was then sent for a CT. It confirmed that I had irregular lymph nodes all over my torso, near my liver, around my aorta and my heart.
“I have them near my kidneys as well.
“I was then sent for a biopsy which was the most traumatic thing I’ve experienced. They went through my back to the one by my kidney which was the safest to get, and it confirmed I had Follicular Lymphoma.
“Thankfully I’ve been put on a medical trial. I had my first lot of chemo last month and I have my second lot later this month.
“It’s classed as incurable, but it is treatable. It will go away with treatment, but then will keep coming back between every five and seven years. The medical trial I’m on is hoping to improve the remission period.”
Louise’s story prompted James, a coach at Renton Craigandro, to act –as he organised the charitygame between local Rangers and Celtic supporters, andsaid he was determined to do something as soon as he heard about her diagnosis.
He told the Lennox: “I’ve lost a few good friends to cancer, and as soon as I heard about Louise’s situation I asked myself what I could do to help.
“I coach at Renton Craigandro and every year we tryto hold a charity game to raise a bit of money.
“As soon as I heard of this I knew we had to act and within a day it was all sorted.
“Louise has been a fundraiser for ROHHAD for years,but I felt it was now time someone did something to help her out.
“My dining room was full of donations for the raffle, including a signed Henrik Larsson top. The Graeme Ramage Football Academyhave given us free camps for a year.
“Renton Craigandro do so much for the community. We’ve held games raising money for a lifeboat and for others battling cancer in the area.
“It’s good to come together and do something like this for someone like Louise who absolutely deserves it.”
To donate to the Crowdfunder visit www.gofundme.com/f/help-louise-who-has-a-rare-form-of-lymphoma.
