Dad’s devastating shock diagnosis
AYOUNG dad and football coach started feeling tired and lethargic - before doctors then handed him the most devastating news. Kyle Dearden, 31, from Littleborough, had been feeling exhausted for a number of months before he developed a number of colds, coughs and chest infections.
The dad-of-one, who coaches budding footballers aged under nine, then went to the doctors, who initially suspected he had pneumonia, something he had suffered with previously.
However examinations then revealed his white blood cells were alarmingly high.
He underwent further tests before he was diagnosed with myeloid leukaemia.
Kyle, who is being supported by the local community and football club, the Sapere Aude Football Academy, has said the shock diagnosis has been ‘hard to process’, but that the outpouring of support has been ‘overwhelming’.
His seven-year-old son Parker plays in the team and Kyle, who works as manager at a plastics production firm, gives up every Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday to help young players develop their game.
Kyle, an avid Liverpool fan, said: “When you get a diagnosis like that you immediately think bad things. It is hard to process it all both emotionally and mentally.”
Kyle has had his bone marrow check and will soon start chemotherapy. But he is already undergoing private treatment at Positive IV in Rochdale which specialises in Vitamin C and IV Therapy.
He is having hyperbaric chamber therapy and high dosage vitamin C treatment so that he is able to cope with the chemotherapy but also to try and repair his immune system for the future.
His brother Chadd has launched a Gofundme to help Kyle pay for treatment he is undergoing which is not available on the NHS and has organised a walk from Rochdale to Blackpool.
Sapere Aude has organised a 24-hour walk which will take place at Hollingworth Lake on March 30.
Kyle added: “It is so humbling and overwhelming.
“I feel like I owe everyone the world. I really enjoy the football coaching and seeing the kids develop and it is incredible that people are now showing me all this support. It shows that the time I have spent with their boys and girls over the years has been appreciated.
“The aim is to get fit and through the chemo and the treatment should help with the longevity of life so I am back coaching as soon as possible.”
So far more than £10,000 has been raised.