Albert needs your help to boost funds for blood disorder research (From Wirral Globe)

Albert needs your help to boost funds for blood disorder research

10:25am Friday 31st August 2012 in News Exclusive By Stephanie Cureton

A WIRRAL dad, who is battling a rare blood disorder, is calling on other sufferers to come forward.

Albert Wirth, from Woodchurch, was diagnosed with Evans Syndrome three years ago after his legs started to swell and doctors discovered he had dangerously low platelet levels.

Following his diagnosis, the 59-year-old underwent a series of treatments however due to there being no cure, Albert describes his condition as a “death sentence hanging over my head.”

But in a bid to boost awareness and reach out to other sufferers, his 12-year-old son Callum wanted to set up a special charity to support people battling the disease.

The family launched Evans Syndrome UK last year and is now asking Globe readers to back their charity.

They want to raise enough money to become a registered charity and be able to offer guidance and advice to sufferers of all ages.

Former delivery driver Albert said: “In hospital, it was very scary not knowing initially what was wrong and what was going on.

"I had endless blood tests – so many that one of my veins collapsed – and various types of treatment, including steroids and a couple of doses of chemotherapy which didn’t work.

“My gums and nose started to bleed, I was spitting out blood clots and I also had a platelet rash which are small red spots on the skin all over my body.

“One treatment which worked for a time was a platelet boosting drug called Romiplostim - it helped in some ways in getting rid of the spots and made me feel a bit better, but they didn’t raise my platelets enough to carry them on which is a shame.

“Living with Evans means I can’t work or go out much so I feel like a prisoner in my home. I had just started a job that I really loved but had to give it up when I was diagnosed – everything just had to come to a stop.”

Evans Syndrome is an autoimmune disease which an individual's antibodies attack their own red blood cells and platelets.

And now Albert and his wife, Amanda, are working tirelessly to boost Evans Syndrome UK’s profile and raise cash to fund research.

Amanda said: “Although the condition is very rare, we know there must be other people in Wirral suffering from it so we are urging them to get in touch and also hoping people will donated what they can to help us reach our target of £5,000.”

For more information visit www.evanssyndromeuk.org