AnthonyA, aka Albrecht Durer (the genius/madman of the Brain Fog thread), aka my dear friend Anthony.

Dear all,

I have some very sad news to share with you.

You may recall a few weeks ago I said that Anthony is unwell and in hospital. I can now tell you that following a fall in early October, he was taken into hospital; following tests and more tests, he was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia and Myelofibrosis, very rare cancers. The diagnosis means that his bone marrow has been producing only ‘immature’ stem cells. These immature stem cells make very weak red and white blood cells and platelets (and there are knock on effects on his other organs).

So since the beginning of a October, his immune system has been useless; despite being in an isolation ward, he’s been plagued with infections and viruses. Including bronchitis, pneumonia and blood infections. There was a comment made that everyday they found a new infection.

He’s had blood transfusions and countless numbers of antibiotics.He had one course of chemotherapy but it didn’t work. Gradually he became more and more tired.

Brain fog descended and wasn’t lifting. Strange really that when Ant began the BF thread, he didn’t really understand exactly how bad the fog can get. It’s sod’s law really that he found out the hard way.

We’d been emailing pretty much as usual (we’ve been emailing most days for the last 4 years) from the middle of October - once he’d got the wifi working in the hospital - until the 20th November at which point I think he was just too tired. In general we were being partly sensible about his illness, life (and death) in general and partly rude, semi-aggressive, scatological and just silly (all of which the BF regulars would expect). One of my last emails to him included the comments you had all sent me in PMs, email and on the forum.

After 20th November we were talking on the phone every few days. To begin with he was OK, normalish, just a bit slower than usual. Gradually he became less capable of conversation. He’d find thoughts would cross his mind, he’d start a sentence, then forget what he was talking about. Eventually he was hardly capable of speaking. I did tell him that I loved him and had loved the last few years of our friendship. He was aware of what I’d said, replied ‘thank you darling’.

The last time we spoke was on the 5th of December. He could barely stay awake and was having extreme trouble speaking. Last Wednesday, 9th December, he was moved to a hospice. I spoke to one of the hospital nurses, they had of course been aware that Anthony and I were friends so she made it clear that he wasn’t expected to live for too much longer.

I believe we can comprehend from this that soon, Anthony will have died. His wife will be lost without him as will many of his friends.

I know I will miss him and my life will be the poorer without Anthony in it.

I know he loved the Forum, all of you and of course, the Brain Fog thread.

Love to you, both Foggies, and those who are less Foggy of brain.

Sue xx

3 Likes

Sue I’m at a loss for words. I really am. Just sending you gentle hugs for your very dear friend.

Sue

I second Poppy’s comment.

You treasured his friendship and he treasured yours.

Carole xx

So very sorry.x

Really sorry to hear this,so sad.x

Sad news indeed.

Alison

Oh what sad news…I am so very choked to learn of our great leader`s condition. Thankyou Sue for letting us know.

Who will be my King to ride with Boudica as we invade Blackpool now?

I`m sure dear Anthony will be Lording it wherever he goes, bless him.

Bouds xxxxx dear AD.xxx

Sue, I am so sad to hear your news. Ant was indeed a good man. He kept us going on here with his laughter. So sad to hear the brain fog has enveloped him. Please do let us know any further news. I am sending another gentle hug to help ease your pain. Anne. X

1 Like

Sue,

huge thanks for keeping us informed about Anthony’s condition, I am certain that all of his family and friends are very sad. Having had only the briefest online interactions with him, I really wish I had the opportunity to meet him over a coffee or a beer.

I adored the dry wit and humour he has dispensed in the Brainfog thread as well as some wisdom empathy and experience in some of his posting elsewhere.

Mick

1 Like

I haven’t even looked at this forum for months, but something made me look. I saw this post Sue. Shocking and sad. My thoughts are with his family. Thanks for keeping us up to date. A dreadful loss. Much love xx

1 Like

Sue thank you for posting this sad news.
The brain fog thread cheered me up no end on many occasions, so wacky. I can’t remember when I last posted on this site but just feel the need to voice support for his family and friends. I didn’t know him personally but still feel shaken at such a sudden loss.

1 Like

Thanks Sssue. It’s the saddest of times for Anthony’s family and friends. Knowing such bad news

Chrissie xx

1 Like

I’m too new here to have known him, but I am so sorry.

1 Like

Hi Sue,

Thanks so much for posting about Anthony, so sad.

I’ve been on this website for years and you do get to know people through their posts and his were frequent, funny and informative.

I had noticed that he hadn’t posted for a while and I think someone asked about him. Maybe you replied.

My sympathy goes to his family and to you, his friend.

With the awful year we’re going through family and friends are so important.

Take care and thanks again for posting. We’ve lost one of our key members.

Jen x

1 Like

Lovely Anthony, he made brain fog famous. I will miss him and feel for his family and everyone who knew him x

1 Like

Because enquiries hadn’t been made publicly on here doesn’t mean he hadn’t been missed and asked about from members and friends.

Oh dear… not good news, and my thoughts are with him and the family.

1 Like