A 32-year-old was given just a 22% chance of survival after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukaemia.

Ricky Kennedy received the devastating news last year, three weeks after he and his wife Sam picked up the keys to their doer-upper first home in Hoo.

He was starting to look pale and was losing a lot of weight but put it down to over-working at his construction job.

It was not until he almost passed out while working on his new house, in Walters Road, did he realise something was wrong.

Sam called 111 who advised Ricky to go to A&E at Medway Maritime Hospital where he waited for around 21 hours to be seen before being transferred to King’s College Hospital in London.

He was originally told by doctors he could have a “nasty” infection and was given medication.

“I just was not getting any better,” said Ricky. “I was kept in and then a few days later we were told it was leukaemia.

“I thought I was going to die. At that point, I was really poorly and the doctors would not tell me much. I was scared.

“I could not believe it was actually happening to me. It made me really think about life.”

Ricky, who is originally from Crewe, in Cheshire, and moved to Kent in 2018, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukaemia and was told he was in the “blast crisis” stage.

This meant the cancer of the white blood cells had become acute and he was placed in the highest category.

The tradesman was given a 22% chance of survival and told the only way he could get better was to go through an intense chemotherapy programme.

After his first round of medicine, his chances rose to 50%.

He went through three rounds of chemotherapy and spent around three months in and out of the hospital.

During that time, Ricky also had various skin problems, ulcerative colitis which is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease, and appendicitis.

“This meant I was too poorly to have surgery so I just had to ride through the pain until eventually it passed,” he added. “Thankfully through the amazing NHS, I was able to make it through such an intense and rocky ride through treatment.”

In December 2022, Ricky was able to have a life-saving stem cell transplant, which replaces damaged blood cells with healthy ones.

Two days before Christmas, he was finally discharged.

Ricky said: “It was the best Christmas I have ever had being at home with my wife and I have been here ever since.”

While he was undergoing treatment, his boss Keith from Paramount Timber set up a fundraising page to help raise money for the couple’s new house, as it needed completely ripping out.

“The house was a mess but they rallied the troops and my family and friends,” the 32-year-old said. “They spent hours upon hours redecorating and repairing the entire house.

“They all came together for me and my wife. It was really incredible and because of them, I was able to come home before Christmas as I needed to be discharged somewhere safe.

“Our church City Praise Centre, in Gravesend, also supported us practically and financially throughout my journey. My family’s personal faith has also been a rock to us.”

After his battle with cancer, Ricky has decided to organise a charity football event to raise money for the charity Leukaemia UK. You can also donate here.

It will be hosted at Chatham Town FC on Saturday, September 16, and tickets will cost £5 each at the door.