Funeral for Richard Mann
Donation protected
Richard Mann has lived with PRV (Polycythaemia Rubra Vera) for most of his life. PRV is a disorder which means the bone marrow makes too many blood cells. Hospital visits were nothing new and and he always took took it in his stride. It was something he could live with and he never let it slow him down.
May 2019 came the first devastating blow.
In a 1 in 1000,000 chance his disorder had mutated in Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (blood cancer)
The following 8 months was filled with chemotherapy, blood tests and trial medications. Its needless to say Rich was really going through a very rough time, mentally, physically and emotionally. But on the outside he was still the same funny, caring man he had always been. even the nurse made remarks on how cheerful and upbeat he was.
Anything for a laugh :)
December 2019 - good news came our way in the form of a bone marrow transplant. A procedure to replace damaged or diseased bone marrow with healthy bone marrow.
In February 2020 Rich had the procedure, which went according to plan. We wouldn't know for 100 days if the transplant had worked, but even with the uncertainty of its success, Rich was cancer free and feeling like superman.
However over the next few months Richs health started to get worse, he developed a severe cough that would keep him awake all night, he was breathless and lethargic. We all assumed it was part of the process and it would be all worth it.
However it wasn't the transplant had failed. The second devastating blow
Rich had a rogue blood cell that was destroying the new cells
Rich's cough was being caused by pollution on his lungs due to having no immune system to flush it out. he had to be put on oxygen and antibiotics.
Rich would go 2 to 3 times a week to the hospital for check ups, blood tests and on one fateful consultation he was given the 3rd and final devastating blow.
The cancer was back. And there was nothing that could be done. These words have torn a hole in our family. A hole that will never be filled.
On top of all that the pollution was back in his lungs and his spleen has become inflamed.
This news came just 3 weeks ago. i think that is important to know to be able to understand how fast Richs deterioration has been.
Having spent the last two weeks in hospital, Rich has been given days to live, not months as originally thought.
Plans are in place for him to come home to be with his loving family, in the home where he made amazing memories.
Where he can spend his last hours away from machines and white coats, and just be loved.
He leaves behind his beautiful wife (my sister) Rebecca Mann
His eldest son Nathan
His youngest son Rhys
and also his family, extended family and so so many friends.
Rich's whole world was his family, and their whole world was Rich.
This has been the hardest time my sister, my nephews, my family has ever gone through, and we were not prepared. We are not prepared to lose him.
This was the last thing I ever thought I would be doing, but I'm asking for your help, I'm asking for the Mann family but mostly I'm asking for Rich.
Due to his original disorder PRV, Rich was turned down for every life insurance plan he applied for.
The cost of the funeral was something we also wasn't prepared for because it happened so fast and honestly we never thought it would end like this.
Any donation made will go to giving this man an amazing send off, one that he truly deserves. And will mean more than you could ever know.
I'll leave you with some words from the man himself
"We shall keep fighting with our chins up, our positive vibes are resolute, Mann clan all the way. I ain't gone yet, see you on the flip side"
May 2019 came the first devastating blow.
In a 1 in 1000,000 chance his disorder had mutated in Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (blood cancer)
The following 8 months was filled with chemotherapy, blood tests and trial medications. Its needless to say Rich was really going through a very rough time, mentally, physically and emotionally. But on the outside he was still the same funny, caring man he had always been. even the nurse made remarks on how cheerful and upbeat he was.
Anything for a laugh :)December 2019 - good news came our way in the form of a bone marrow transplant. A procedure to replace damaged or diseased bone marrow with healthy bone marrow.
In February 2020 Rich had the procedure, which went according to plan. We wouldn't know for 100 days if the transplant had worked, but even with the uncertainty of its success, Rich was cancer free and feeling like superman.
However over the next few months Richs health started to get worse, he developed a severe cough that would keep him awake all night, he was breathless and lethargic. We all assumed it was part of the process and it would be all worth it.
However it wasn't the transplant had failed. The second devastating blow
Rich had a rogue blood cell that was destroying the new cells
Rich's cough was being caused by pollution on his lungs due to having no immune system to flush it out. he had to be put on oxygen and antibiotics.
Rich would go 2 to 3 times a week to the hospital for check ups, blood tests and on one fateful consultation he was given the 3rd and final devastating blow.
The cancer was back. And there was nothing that could be done. These words have torn a hole in our family. A hole that will never be filled.
On top of all that the pollution was back in his lungs and his spleen has become inflamed.
This news came just 3 weeks ago. i think that is important to know to be able to understand how fast Richs deterioration has been.
Having spent the last two weeks in hospital, Rich has been given days to live, not months as originally thought.
Plans are in place for him to come home to be with his loving family, in the home where he made amazing memories.
Where he can spend his last hours away from machines and white coats, and just be loved.
He leaves behind his beautiful wife (my sister) Rebecca Mann
His eldest son Nathan
His youngest son Rhys
and also his family, extended family and so so many friends.
Rich's whole world was his family, and their whole world was Rich.
This has been the hardest time my sister, my nephews, my family has ever gone through, and we were not prepared. We are not prepared to lose him.
This was the last thing I ever thought I would be doing, but I'm asking for your help, I'm asking for the Mann family but mostly I'm asking for Rich.
Due to his original disorder PRV, Rich was turned down for every life insurance plan he applied for.
The cost of the funeral was something we also wasn't prepared for because it happened so fast and honestly we never thought it would end like this.
Any donation made will go to giving this man an amazing send off, one that he truly deserves. And will mean more than you could ever know.
I'll leave you with some words from the man himself
"We shall keep fighting with our chins up, our positive vibes are resolute, Mann clan all the way. I ain't gone yet, see you on the flip side"
Organizer
Pippa Turner
Organizer