Virtual Stocking

Back in October 2023 my doctor referred me for a blood test as I was having nightmares. Little did I know that that simple test would lead to a cancer diagnosis. The doctor sent me to get a blood test to check that my hormone levels and general health was okay and rule out some things that could be causing my sudden onset of nightmares. I was terrified of needles and took the day slow and as stress free as possible. I was so proud of myself for doing it. I went home and got back to work on my Taylor Swift concert jacket as a reward. A few hours after having my test done, I got a call from the doctors “Keira you need to go to hospital now, take a bag and take a friend.” instantly I was worried and knew something wasn’t right and I was thinking the worst.

Me and my friend trekked up to the hospital from our university accommodation and waited until someone came to speak to me. “So, your results Keira your anaemic but that’s not what we are concerned about. You have a really high white blood cell count.” I knew that white blood cells were involved in keeping your body healthy and you have more when you’re sick and I assume that it was Covid or something similar as they were so concerned “The normal rate of white blood cells should sit between five and seven yours are at 300 it’s not an infection it’s something else.” I knew then that it was cancer, but they wouldn’t tell me, they told me to call my parents up and try and sleep and the doctors would talk to me the following day. The day after I was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia. Out of nowhere was a cancer diagnosis. I was 20 years old in my final year of university. Surely the tests were wrong, they weren’t. It was confirmed through a bone marrow biopsy that I had Philadelphia Jean which caused the mass production of white blood cells and leads to leukaemia. I had no symptoms to my knowledge. I was at university and working three jobs so surely I would have known they should’ve been signs in hindsight I had two symptoms severe backache caused by so many white blood cells in my bone marrow that couldn’t escape and caused pressure and bruising to my arms and legs.

Can I create my own Stocking?
You can create your own virtual stocking by choosing items from the list provided and adding them to your stocking using the add button. Alternatively, you can choose ‘other amount’ if you’d prefer and we’ll make sure your gift goes to where the need is greatest.

Can I send a real stocking?
All stockings are virtual and therefore we aren’t accepting real ones.

Can I change what I put in my stocking?
No unfortunately once you have completed your donation you can’t go back and amend it.

Will my stocking go directly to supporting a young person facing cancer?
When you choose an item to fill your virtual Christmas Stocking you’re supporting the vital work of The Tom Bowdidge Youth Cancer Foundation. These are real examples of items and help we provide. However, they are used here to represent the way your gift could be spent, and donations will be distributed across the charity and used where it is most needed to support young people facing cancer.