A mothers love which knew no bounds
To be quite honest I don't often read books. But due to some "complications" in my life a few years ago I found myself supporting the work of the Anthony Nolan Trust, and in turn I found myself reading this book.
Anthony (named after his uncle) who's mother, Shirley, becomes something of a one woman army in an epic fight to save her child?s life in a time when the diagnosis of his illness, Wiscott-Aldrige Syndrome, meant a life expectancy of around 2 years.
Shirley refused to accept this death sentence, and this book recalls her seemingly super human effort to save Anthony's life.... almost at the cost of her own.
This book had an unexpected effect upon me. I found it moving, brutally honest and sometimes horrifying to read this TRUE story of how, through unimaginable difficulty, this lady, with a lot of help from her mother Rhoda, fought bearocracy, ignorance and fear in an epic quest to try and find a bone marrow donor for her boy at a time when there was no such thing as a donor register in the world.
Not only did Shirley fight tooth and claw to save her son, but somehow she find the strength and commitment to establish the Anthony Nolan Trust, which has, over the last few decades, saved thousands of people who may otherwise have lost their life.
It is now 30 years now since Anthony Nolan died, but in the covers of this 30 year old publication you will find an epic real life story, but please be warned, once you start to read this book, you will, like me, probably not put it down again until the tragic end is revealed.
Wonderful and inspirational, read it now!
