HERCULES .....

In May 2007 Michael was laid in bed one evening and felt a lump underneath his ribs.  He Contacted his GP and scans began.  Each time the tests came back and everything looked OK.  It was only until he had a biopsy of the lump that things changed.

In July 2007 Michael was diagnosed with Desmoplastic Small Round Blue Cell Sarcoma.  This is a rare cancer.  Sarcoma are very dangerous and can be wrongly diagnosed.  Sarcoma are most common in the limbs (arms & legs) and amputation is often the cure.  Normally this particular sarcoma has only been found in small children and young adults.  However, Michael's conditions is very rare, so rare that at present (that we know of) there is only him with this.

In august 2007, Michael began an intense treatment of chemotherapy He spent a whole week connected to the chemo 24 hours a day. 

Michael Hardy

He was given the most intense, dirtiest drugs that are available to any human being.  Without realising just how intense these drugs were, he didn't complain, he didn't moan he just ran the course, he knew no different.  He lost his hair, eye lashes, appetite his body was inside as well as outside  in pieces.  This pattern went on until 30 November 2007. 

5 February 2008 Michael had an 8 hour operation to have the sarcoma removed from his liver.  After, he was extremely poorly and spend 3 days in intensive care.  After just 8 days in hospital, he was able to go home.  In April 2008 he was able to go back to work and doing all the normal things again.  Going to the gym, cycling, all the things he loves and being “normal”

June 2008 he had a scan and everything came back positive, no more sarcoma.  This was a good time for Michael.  Living the summer months as he enjoyed, being out on his bike early evening in the sunshine.

November 2008 another scan.  Unknown to Michael at the time, the sarcoma had returned.  It was until the 5 February 2009, strangely a year to the day from the operation date that he was again given the news he so dreaded, the sarcoma had returned. , but with a turn.  He had 2 sarcoma's inside his liver this time, another wrapped round the aorta and one just above his stomach.

He sat there and just looked at the screen that showed all the scans, there was no expression, think he knew before this time that it had returned.  To watch someone be told that your cancer has returned is the most devastating sight that I have ever seen.  I was in a worse state than he was. 

Due to the rare condition, there were so many doctors in the room on this day it was overwhelming.  So many all wanting to talk at once, yet they all sat there and stared.  I noticed the silence, you could of heard a pin drop.  I turned to the liver doctor and asked “why is everyone staring like this at us” his reply was “well, we know that he is human as there on the screen are his insides, yet he has no symptoms he doesn't even look ill”  “should he be ill?” I asked “very” said the consultant.

I turned to Michael and said “see I told you that you were a hero, is this what happens when your mother puts you in tights when you were a baby” he just laughed out loud and said “yeah I guess so, just call me Hercules”.  Which to this day, I do.

2 months ago we asked the big question that no one likes to ask, but need to so that we could plan our future together.  We both knew what the answer would be but need to hear it – terminal.  The doctor was kind but very blunt which is the only way to be really at a time like this – “12 months”.  We were both devastated, despite us already knowing the answer before we asked.

We stopped on the way home at the side of the motorway.  To gather ourselves.  Neither of us spoke but knowing how the other one felt.  It was horrible and I will never forget that journey as long as I live.

That night whilst we watched some rubbish on the tv, neither said much.  There still so much for us to do together.  A future to build. 

So this is now where we are - Michael and I have been up and down to the Freeman Hospital every week for months.  He is now on his 7 lot of chemo.  There is not enough information, facts to look up and with all the red tape within the UK and PCT.

I emailed Michael's story to a clinic in Boston, who to my total amazement replied requesting to see him without delay.

To send Michael to Boston, USA, we need help with funds so that he can receive treatment to prolong his life span of the given 12 months and – this bit is so so important – maybe just maybe he will be the one to actually survive this rare condition.  Up to now there has never been anyone to survive this condition.  He is only the 5^th person EVER known to have had this.

written by Jennifer Howes

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  website updated 2nd December 2009