Neil’s Story

Neil Morris, a 44-year-old HR director from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, had always been fit and active, completing marathons and long-distance cycling. However, in November 2023, he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) after experiencing what he initially thought was indigestion and heartburn.

During the week of his diagnosis, Neil, known as Moz, felt tightness in his neck and chest but dismissed it as a minor issue. His wife, Jenny, recalled that Moz had never suffered from heartburn before, yet he decided to see his GP as a precaution. Following a consultation, he was referred to the hospital, where a CT scan uncovered a large mass in his chest and a blood clot. Further tests and a bone marrow biopsy confirmed the devastating diagnosis of ALL on November 29, 2023.

“Looking back, I was like a rabbit in headlights,” Jenny said. “My first thought was, ‘I’ve got three children and a husband who I love,’ and I was completely shocked. Even now, it still doesn’t feel real, but I’ve always believed he would be okay.”

Neil began treatment immediately, starting with steroids before undergoing three intense cycles of chemotherapy over six months at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford. Despite the gruelling nature of the 6 months of treatment, his determination remained strong. Even while undergoing chemotherapy, Moz continued exercising on his stationary bike, impressing the hospital staff with his resilience.

After the first cycle, Neil reached remission, but doctors advised that a stem cell transplant was his best chance for a long-term cure. Unfortunately, he had no sibling match, meaning they had to rely on the stem cell registry. The wait for a match was agonising, but finally, a donor was found—a woman from Germany, whose generosity ultimately saved his life.

“I thank her for giving our children their dad back, my wife her husband back, and giving me my life back,” Neil said. “I have a second chance, and the only reason I have that is because of her.”

On 18 May 2024, after enduring more than 100 rounds of chemotherapy, eight hours of radiotherapy, five bone marrow biopsies, numerous blood transfusions, and several PICC lines, Moz received his stem cell transplant. The procedure, while a beacon of hope, left Moz feeling extremely unwell, with extreme fatigue and vulnerability. However, his resilience and determination kept him going, and after months of recovery, his latest bone marrow biopsy revealed 100% donor cells and no detectable leukaemia. Despite some complications post-transplant, including a high risk of infection, Moz was eventually discharged and continued his recovery at home, remaining in isolation for three months.