Tom Markham-Cannin

Tom was the first person I was ever friends with who had a transplant. I remember him being on the CF unit shortly after his op for some routine checks.  He was talking to another lad about how amazing he felt and the way he spoke about it made me feel very optimistic about having a transplant.

Tom was very proud of the way he could grow a beard after his transplant as the drugs he was on helped to make him extra hairy.  Tom was often seen sporting a beard as It also helped people get his age right because like lots of CF patients, he looked a lot younger than he actually was.  After his Op Tom went straight into work in a news paper office which he really loved.

Unfortunately however, Tom had complications post transplant and he became a regular face on the unit in the years after his op.  Because Tom was one of the first in our gang to have a transplant he was often the first port of call for people with questions.  Even though Tom was undergoing these problems he was always ready to listen, to answer any questions people had for him and he did it all in a up-beat way. I will never forget his love of the Simpson’s and they way they covered his blue book, the one we all have to fill in daily after transplant.

Tom was a very gentle and loving guy, always ready to have fun.  Tom was one of the first of our gang to die. The beginning of the terrible analogy: ‘one by one, only the good die young’.  This is no more true than with you.