Loving dad with years to live enjoys bucket list trips

Gareth Dixon, originally from Haydock, was given the gut-wrenching news last year that he has a very rare and aggressive form of blood cancer called plasma cell leukaemia.

The 40-year-old dad of one and stepdad of one, who is originally from Haydock, has heartbreakingly been told that he has years to live.

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But he is keen to make as many lasting memories with his family as he can, and he is looking to tick off a number of bucket list items with his loved ones following his terminal prognosis.

A fundraiser has been set up to help him achieve this, and he is also hoping to raise vital awareness of his condition by sharing his story in a bid to help others.

Gareth recently enjoyed a swim with sharks

In March last year, Gareth was feeling tired and lacking energy, along with pains in his ribs and hips, explained his wife, Laura.

He visited Warrington Hospital, with blood tests revealing that he was seriously ill.

“As a family we are heartbroken. Gaz has been incredibly strong and brave, and I am very proud of him,” Laura said last year.

“We just cannot get our heads around the diagnosis, and there is so much unknown about plasma cell leukaemia, especially in people of Gaz age.”

Gaz was seen by a hematology consultant who explained about the leukaemia he had, and the following week he started chemotherapy at Halton Hospital.

Gareth Dixon with his wife Laura

Now that is complete, he is set to visit Clatterbridge Hospital for a donor stem cell transplant after undergoing a course of very aggressive chemotherapy.

Providing an update, Laura said: “Gaz is doing ok and is taking each day as it comes, trying to fit in as much as he can before his next treatment session starts.

“It is looking like he will be going back into Clatterbridge at the beginning of April for a donor stem cell transplant, which has been found on the donor registry.

“The transplant has its risks and Gareth will be extremely poorly during and after it for at least six months to a year.

“With little knowledge of whether it will work, the doctors have told Gaz that if he lasts two years, he has exceeded expectations – which is a lot to take in.”

Gareth recently enjoyed a swim with sharks

A GoFundMe page was set up last year to allow Gaz to make as many memories as he could with his adoring family by ticking things off his bucket list – things that he has always wanted to do.

This has so far raised more than £8,300, smashing the initial goal of £5,000, and you can donate by visiting gofundme.com/f/live-a-little-make-some-memories

“So far, Gaz has ticked off a trip to Scotland to look for Loch Ness and we have been to Iceland to see the Northern Lights, and he had an amazing time at Blue Lagoon,” Laura explained.

“We have been to Langley Castle in Northumberland, where we got to stay in the turret, and just recently he did a shark dive, kindly gifted to Gaz by Blue Planet. This was amazing, swimming with 12ft sharks.

“I have just booked a star gazing experience at Brecon Beacons in Wales, which we got as a Christmas gift from my brother and sister-in-law.

A trip to Iceland was also on the bucket list

“We have had an amazing time making memories, and it is all thanks to the wonderful people who donated via the GoFundMe page.”

Plasma cell leukaemia is not curable, and it is one of the worst forms of leukemia you can get.

When he was diagnosed, doctors estimated that Gaz, who now lives in Penketh, Warrington, had the disease for about six weeks, and while there are normally no symptoms, the disease had taken over and caused Gaz’s kidneys to stop working, which gave him pain in his ribs.

“There are so many unknowns in Gaz’s case, which is one of the hardest parts about it, and he could go through all this treatment and still not get any remission,” Laura added.

“We hope to raise awareness of plasma cell leukaemia and do as Gaz did in not taking no for an answer.”