The Book

On November 1st 2007, as Mel was recovering from Lymphoma and had just spent two weeks in hospital with pneumonia, I decided to start writing a blog on the internet.  Initially it was help me let out some of the stuff I was keeping in, but also, it was to enable us all, when Mel was better, to look back at the journey we had been on.  So began "One Day at a Time" on MySpace.   As our daily lives unfolded and events changed, sometimes on an hourly basis, the blog became a useful tool in letting friends and family know how Mel was feeling and also how we were all feeling.  Every day, sometimes in the early hours of the morning, or sat at Mel's bedside in hospital whilst she slept I would tap away on the keyboard.  The tears, the laughter (we did laugh sometimes), the joy at good news and the heartbreak when bad news was received were all relayed.

In January, inspired by the blog of her online friend Hayley, Mel began to do the same.  Like myself, she talked with honesty and shot from the hip in telling friends, family and other sufferers what living with Lymphatic cancer was really like.  One of the many sad things is that Melissa will never know how, through her words, she helped and inspired others, not just from the UK, but from across the world. 

After Mel had passed away, I decided to use our respective blogs and write Mel's story.  My one concern was that with the story having the saddest of endings, I didn't want to scare people.  Seventy-five per cent of people in Mel's situation do recover and that has to be remembered.  In writing Mel's story I want to convey her bravery and courage whilst at the same time be informative about how you deal with life when you're given this awful news.  The help that is available from charitable organisations.  The help that isn't available from the government, if, like Mel, you're a student. How do you cope with the waiting, the watching, the good news and the bad.  I also want to put across how we, as parents, dealt with (and continue to deal with) these life changing events. 

In 2005, Mel was the subject of a book called One night in the City.  A book of photographs, taken by myself as Liverpool supporters enjoyed winning the Champions League Final in dramatic fashion.  The company that published that book, Birkenhead Press, have agreed to publish this book and have kindly offered to do this and charge us only for materials.  The price of the book will be £10.00.  All profits on books sold by ourselves will be divided between The Queen's Hospital at Burton on Trent and the Nottingham City Hospital, also, £1 from every book sold will be donated to the Lymphoma Association.

The book is called "One Day at a Time " and details of how to order can be found below....

Ordering "One Day at a Time - Mel's Story"

You can order a copy in one of three ways: Using PayPal, by sending me a cheque or, of course, in person with good old fashioned cash.  If you live within a five mile radius of Burton on Trent, I will deliver to you free of charge if required.

The book is printed using a digital process and as well as adding to the quality, it also reduces wastage as our publisher can print as few or as many as we need.  We will have an initial stock to meet demand, but once they have been sold then there may be a longer delay in shipping the book to you, as we will be ordering as and when they are required.

The cost of the book is £10.00.  If you require it posting to you then please add a further £3.00. to cover postage and packing costs.  The price for sending the book to America is £10.00 plus £8.00 postage and packing.

To order using PayPal:-

If you go to your PayPal account and click the "Send Money" tab.  If you could pay the PayPal fees (about 70p) then that would help the charities too, but there is no obligation.

Follow the instructions on the screen using ijleech@hotmail.co.uk as the email address and the money will automatically be sent to me.  Upon receipt of payment the book will be sent out to you within 48 hours (stock permitting).

To order sending a cheque:-

To order by sending a cheque, please send a cheque to Ian Leech, 8 Nicklaus Close, Branston, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire, DE14 3HP and make the cheque payable to Ian Leech.

PLEASE DO NOT, REPEAT, DO NOT ORDER FROM AMAZON OR ANY OTHER ONLINE BOOK STORE

AS WHEN THEY HAVE TAKEN THEIR CUT, THE PROFITS DIMINISH CONSIDERABLY.