The Fight

Having been ill for over two years with what he thought was colitis, Anton FitzSimons was admitted to hospital in February 2003. He was diagnosed with advanced lymphoma. Despite a series of operations his condition steadily deteriorated. In isolation in a high dependency unit, and armed with a basic understanding of the placebo effect, he strove to believe that he would recover. By August, he was less than half his normal bodyweight, had lost two major organs, had suffered a massive stroke, and was the subject of a 'do not resuscitate' order. With treatment for the lymphoma failing completely the former soldier switched tactics. As opposed to striving to believe in recovery, he strove to accept recovery as a certainty.