When we met Barbara, we spoke a lot about the videos she would have liked to have seen when she was most unwell. We hoped that seeing someone feeling well again would be positive for those of you following her story who might be very ill at the moment. 

Barbara spoke about how, when she was most ill with aplastic anaemia, she wasn't able to do the gardening have fresh flowers on her kitchen table. She also spoke about what a change it was in her family dynamics, she'd had to learn to sit back and let her family look after her, and cook and help more at Christmas time. For some people, these seemingly small changes can leave you feeling less like yourself. 

Aplastic anaemia can be a long road through difficult times. When we asked Barbara how many blood transfusions she was having, she went over to a drawer and pulled out a thick bundle of paper.

That's how many blood transfusions I was having." she said. It was a stack of hospital parking tickets, as thick as an encyclopedia.

We asked if Barbara saved the tickets so she could look back at what she had overcome.

"Actually," she smiled "I was going to make a deck of playing cards."

Show your support 

If you understand the impact that aplastic anaemia has, please consider a donation to our Christmas appeal. Donations made during The Big Give Christmas Challenge week (from midday on Tuesday 3rd December) will be doubled (up to £6000).

Donate now

Join us for a chat

If you're feeling angry or hopeless about missing out on the things you used to enjoy, constant trips to and from the hospital - and the financial stress if you're having to pay for all those parking tickets - we are here for you. 

Our online AAT chats are monthly, and anyone can join. We have an online chat for whatever stage you're at, so you can be confident of finding yourself among people who get it. 

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