Cotgrave father of two and Von Hippel-Lindau sufferer John Pickering beats the odds to celebrate Boxing Day with his family
A MAN who was told he had only three months to live has beaten the odds and will today sit down to celebrate Boxing Day with his family.
John Pickering has Von Hippel-Lindau disease, a genetic condition he inherited from his mother.
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John Pickering
Sufferers often develop cysts and tumours, some of which can become cancerous.
Mr Pickering developed kidney cancer and almost two years ago was told it was inoperable and he only had three months to live.
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But today, family will meet with the Cotgrave father-of-two for their Christmas celebrations.
The former factory worker said: "I thought I only had 12 weeks to live.
"I had the 'end of life' talk with my GP, who told me what to expect and how to deal with it. It was pretty rotten.
"Now this is like a second lease of life."
John will be celebrating today with wife Geraldine, 56, son Darren, 35, daughter Joanne, 29, and grandchildren Ben, five, and Emily, 18 months.
It was January 2011 at the City Hospital that he was given his prognosis. He now has cancerous tumours on spine, liver and chest.
If a parent has the syndrome there is a 50 per cent chance of it being passed on to their children.
Both his children have it but it is too early to say whether his grandchildren are affected. His mother, Betty Pickering, who had VHL, died earlier this year aged 81.
Mr Pickering's wife Geraldine said: "We were distraught when we first found out – it's hard to explain.
"Our lives were turned upside down.
"It's better now John is doing well – it's nice to have a bit of reality back."
I should have been dead 18 months ago - read more on John's story here.
Comments
by voxpopuli
Wednesday, December 26 2012, 8:13PM
“It is quite possible, FredR, that one of your sperms suffered a spontaneous mutation and one of your kids now has the disorder. Or it could have been your wife with a dodgy egg. Who's to know?
I trust if you do find yourself in the situation this poor chap finds himself in, you will practice what you preach and actively discourage your offspring from reproducing.”
by BLawrenson
Wednesday, December 26 2012, 1:17PM
“Fred, if you read the article you will see his children already have children so your point is ahademic. We do not know the facts of this case but it is highly probable that this was a late diagnosis for both mother and son and hindsight is easy. I have glaucoma which can be genetic and it was not diagnosed until I was 60 and no previous family history that I am aware of. You could also be carrying a rogue gene which will be transmitted but you would need to be screened to establish this and could then be in an identicle position to this family. Perhaps you should reconsider your use of the word selfish.”
by FredR
Wednesday, December 26 2012, 12:50PM
“In the article it does say he inherited it from his mother, so he may have been aware. But if not, then his children are now aware and they should refrain from having children to try and restrict and wipe out this disease. Again, they could always adopt a family.”
by BLawrenson
Wednesday, December 26 2012, 11:00AM
“Fred, have you ever thought that the diagnosis came some time after they had their children ? It is only fairly recently that many of these genetic conditions have been screened for. Have you been screened to check whether you have some genetic condition that might be a risk to your family ?”
by FredR
Wednesday, December 26 2012, 10:20AM
“Personally I find it a little bit selfish that somebody knowing they have a disease that has at least a 50% chance of being inherited by their children then go ahead and have children. If sufferers of this disease decided not to have children( they could always adopt) then this disease would die out in a few years. Having said that, good luck to the man, enjoy life whilst you have it.”