Get Mike Home
Donation protected
Hi everyone,
Back in January 2023, our fun-loving dad Mike Lakey (who many of you will know and love) became extremely poorly and has been through the most challenging and life-changing year of his life. After becoming unwell with relentless chest infections, we found out that the rare form of cancer he has, called hairy-cell leukaemia, had returned (the news we all dreaded).
This is a rare form of cancer which suppresses the bone marrow and prevents the production of white blood cells - meaning they can’t work, ultimately, jeopardising the immune system. After spending 2 months in Bath hospital, Dad continued to deteriorate and developed further illnesses including sepsis and pneumonia. He started to go into multi-organ failure and was put into a coma for over one month. We were told numerous times that he wouldn’t make it, with talk of turning off his life support, but what a fighter he is! Dad woke up and has been battling on ever since (and has continued with his famous dad jokes… lucky us!)
Following a lengthy stay in ICU, Dad was moved into community hospital to undergo rehabilitation (see progress videos below), learning to do everything from swallowing to feeding, standing and walking for himself again. Dad has also suffered with PTSD from the trauma he experienced. He has been moved between five hospitals and care homes since leaving Bath. He is currently staying at Chippenham Community Hospital undergoing intensive rehabilitation and we want to get him home.
So, what’s this all about? We have been told that Dad is going to be discharged from hospital but he won’t be able to afford to stay in his home. He is currently receiving the maximum amount of benefits, but unfortunately, this isn’t enough to cover his bills and mortgage. He is still in a position of needing maximum carer visits and is physically unable to work. We are looking for £5000 to help pay his bills over the next six months. It is our hope, that by this time, we will have our dad fully better and able to move on with the next chapter of his life.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read our story and we would be grateful for any donation you are able to give. No donation is too small.
Love from the Lakey’s x
(P.S. Dad has given consent to this page)
Back in January 2023, our fun-loving dad Mike Lakey (who many of you will know and love) became extremely poorly and has been through the most challenging and life-changing year of his life. After becoming unwell with relentless chest infections, we found out that the rare form of cancer he has, called hairy-cell leukaemia, had returned (the news we all dreaded).
This is a rare form of cancer which suppresses the bone marrow and prevents the production of white blood cells - meaning they can’t work, ultimately, jeopardising the immune system. After spending 2 months in Bath hospital, Dad continued to deteriorate and developed further illnesses including sepsis and pneumonia. He started to go into multi-organ failure and was put into a coma for over one month. We were told numerous times that he wouldn’t make it, with talk of turning off his life support, but what a fighter he is! Dad woke up and has been battling on ever since (and has continued with his famous dad jokes… lucky us!)
Following a lengthy stay in ICU, Dad was moved into community hospital to undergo rehabilitation (see progress videos below), learning to do everything from swallowing to feeding, standing and walking for himself again. Dad has also suffered with PTSD from the trauma he experienced. He has been moved between five hospitals and care homes since leaving Bath. He is currently staying at Chippenham Community Hospital undergoing intensive rehabilitation and we want to get him home.
So, what’s this all about? We have been told that Dad is going to be discharged from hospital but he won’t be able to afford to stay in his home. He is currently receiving the maximum amount of benefits, but unfortunately, this isn’t enough to cover his bills and mortgage. He is still in a position of needing maximum carer visits and is physically unable to work. We are looking for £5000 to help pay his bills over the next six months. It is our hope, that by this time, we will have our dad fully better and able to move on with the next chapter of his life.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read our story and we would be grateful for any donation you are able to give. No donation is too small.
Love from the Lakey’s x
(P.S. Dad has given consent to this page)
Fundraising team: Team fundraiser (3)
Amy Lakey
Organizer
England
Melissa Lakey
Team member
James Lakey
Team member