Best Wishes For Joshua

NOTHING is more important than good health. This fact becomes especially obvious in times of illness or injury. Consequently, quality health care is of utmost importance in the community. The very brave young boy, Joshua Hinchcliffe (Ely Standard, Octobe

NOTHING is more important than good health. This fact becomes especially obvious in times of illness or injury. Consequently, quality health care is of utmost importance in the community.

The very brave young boy, Joshua Hinchcliffe (Ely Standard, October 9), has continually battled with cancer and, according to his mother, currently spends more time at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge than in the classroom. After recovering from a tumour in his kidney last year, doctors found a lump the size of a melon in Joshua's pelvis during a routine x-ray on September 16. I cannot concede that I have gone through anything like this brave little boy has suffered in his brief life. I have had a rather tragic early life myself. I was born in Pervale Hospital in 1938 diagnosed with a heart condition and valve problems and not expected to live more than a few hours. I was in an incubator for a month. My mother asked the doctors if she might take me home as she thought I may as well die there as in the hospital. This started a long and tedious journey through life, not only for me but for my dear mother. She didn't stint herself and, on receiving letters to all the top hospitals, including Great Ormond Street, no one could help me. Consultant after consultant gave me six to 12 months to live. Eventually I went to Guy's Hospital where a doctor had carried out experimental valve surgery on animals. This was in 1952 and Guy's was looking for human guinea pigs to experiment on. I had my operation on May 7, 1952 and was in theatre for four hours. Later I celebrated my 14th birthday in Job Ward in the hospital. Considering I had had this condition for 14 years, it was amazing what I could do after 12 months of taking it easy. I could do everything a normal boy could do and left school at 15. I worked for 31 years full time and had a year out and worked five years part time. I finished work because I was diagnosed with angina. I celebrated my 70th birthday this year. I've still got a heart condition and recently I was diagnosed with arthritis in both legs and torn ligaments in my right knee. Since last year I was diagnosed with diabetes but my mantra is: 'never say die'. I am coping with these ailments from day-to-day. So please don't give up hope Joshua. I'm thinking of you constantly.

R LAW

Link Lane

Sutton