Family of Liverpool mum appeal for support during a special year after shock diagnosis

The family of a loving mum have stepped in to help, and appeal to the generous people of the city region, and beyond to help someone truly special in their lives.

Lisa Richards, 50, who lives in West Derby with her four children Darcy, 20, Macy, 17, Cassidy, 15 and Leo 7, became an even busier working mum after the tragic loss of her husband Paul, who died in a car crash.

After a recent routine appointment with her GP, because Lisa was feeling light-headed and fatigued, a blood test showed that Lisa was suffering from AML, Acute Myeloid Leukaemia, and immediately had to attend the Critical Care Ward at Aintree University Hospital. Lisa then spent 9 weeks at Clatterbridge Hospital, and now faces further rounds of chemotherapy as well as a bone marrow transplant.

Lisa’s wonderful sister, Karen Lloyd, has set up a Go Fund Me page to help to raise vital funds to help support Lisa financially and explains:

‘As soon as Lisa called me to tell me the news, we were all so shocked and devastated. My gorgeous sister absolutely loves life, and her four children are the centre of her world. Three of her daughters are 16, 18 and 21 this year and so she has such a special 2023 planned. Despite the devastating loss of Paul, she has been such an inspiration in how she has provided her family with so much love, care and support.

Lisa’s condition has left her very poorly, although we know she uses every ounce of the energy she has to preserve the health that she has, and focus on her treatments, so that she can be there for her beautiful children. Like other people in a similar position to Lisa, especially when they are the sole provider for their children, her inability to work has led to huge financial stress. Lisa has already used all of her savings to pay for basics like rent and food bills, and with the cost of living and inflation rising, it puts an added pressure on Lisa and her family at a time when  every single resource should be reserved for improving her wellbeing.’

After losing Paul, Lisa has astounded us with her strength, and even more so the ways she has handled her diagnosis of AML. It was such a sudden shock – Lisa was literally cooking the tea for her children when the call came for her to go into Critical Care at once. We want to do everything we can to help her so that she can concentrate on her treatments. She’s such an amazing person, and has helped so many others in the past, and so we would appreciate the generosity of others right now.

As a family, we would also like to thank everyone who has been involved in Lisa’s care so far, including the amazing staff at Clatterbridge Hospital. It is only when something like this happens to a loved one that you truly appreciate the wonderful work medical staff do at every level.’

You can donate directly to the fundraising campaign for Lisa here.