When someone recently started a thread on our discussion forum entitled “The Worst Day Of My Life” the usual sorry tales of hangovers, failed exams and parking tickets were not long in appearing.
However, as regular forum visitors will be aware, all these tales of woe were suddenly placed into perspective by a post from regular poster “Hammerdivone”, who had just discovered that his daughter Charlotte had developed cancer.Charlotte’s dad – better known to his family and friends as Paul Adams – takes up the story:
“Charlotte (CJ) is 13, and was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia on 10th January 2005. This is further complicated by a genetic problem called the Philadelphia chromosome that makes the Leukaemia more aggressive and difficult to treat. She is now two weeks into a five month chemotherapy regime, at the end of which she will require a bone marrow transplant. She is expected to spend a lot of time in hospital over these five months and put up with all the horrible side effects of chemotherapy such as losing her hair. She is already suffering terrible mouth and throat ulcers and aching bones.
Charlotte is an actress, acting being the main love of her life. She has appeared in BBC’s ‘Doctors’, on stage with the New Farnham Reparatory Theatre as Little Emily in David Copperfield and most recently starred in a film for the NSPCC about the dangers of internet chat rooms for kids. She very nearly got one of the lead roles in ‘The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe’ movie recently released. Charlotte had three recalls and got down to the last three for the part of Lucy. She attends the Guildford School of Acting Saturday School and hopes to go to Theatre School full time when she leaves College.
Although acting is her first love, Charlotte also loves singing. Her favourites are varied from pop to stage musical. She loves Kelly Clarkson, Natalie Imbruglia and Girls Aloud through to Les Miserables and Chicago.
Like any teenage girl, Charlotte is a big fan of fashion and loves going shopping with her friends and seeking out a bargain in the sales. Her favourite shops are H&M and New Look, and she likes nothing better than to compare bargains over a Strawberry Frappuccino in Starbucks.
Charlotte has three pets and up until now has been inseparable from her cat Arthur, and two rabbits Benjy and Lizzie. All the time she is in hospital she misses them terribly, and they her!
Charlotte’s favourite TV shows are the O.C., The Bill, Eastenders, Friends and Dream Team.
Charlotte is a huge Tigger fan. One of her dreams was fulfilled last year when she met Tigger and Eeyore at Magic Kingdom in Orlando.
Despite never having seen a game due to her acting commitments, Charlotte does support West Ham thanks to a bit of gentle persuasion by her Dad!!”
Paul’s post provoked an unprecedented response from the KUMB membership as people suddenly realised that that argument with the bank manager wasn’t that important after all. We weren’t the only ones to be moved by CJ’s story either. Messages of support have come from film director Tony Grounds, who has invited CJ on to the set of his latest film, and from actors Roy Marsden and the legendary Ray Winstone, as well as from sources who we’ve agreed not to name.
Even us world weary lot at KUMB Towers, some of whom are no strangers to the horrors of cancer, couldn’t fail to be moved by this story. So we’ve decided to adopt CJ as our mascot. We’ll be doing everything in our power to keep CJ’s chin up as she goes through the next few months. We’ll be giving you regular updates as to how she’s progressing on the long tough road to fitness. We’ll also be trying to come up with ideas to give CJ, Paul, her Mum Julie and her brother Scott – who has the added pressure of GCSEs this year to cope with – as much moral support as we can muster over the coming weeks.
It’s going to be tough – Paul’s latest update can only hint at the hell they must be going through:
“CJ Had the third session of chemo today and she's feeling a bit sick and after a night with no sleep she’s absolutely exhausted. Noticed today her hair is starting to come out, although she is now wearing her wig to get used to it.”
However, it’s well known that a positive mental attitude in these things goes a long way towards assisting recovery and, with your help, we’ll be doing all we can to give everyone involved as much of a boost as we can.
In the meantime anyone wishing to send good luck messages or cards can do so to the following address:
Charlotte Adams
c/o Eggars School
London Road
Holybourne
Alton
Hampshire
GU34 4EQ
Good luck CJ!
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