ARTIST Diane Jennings is using her skills as an artist to back a medical unit that has helped to save her son’s life.

Diane from Ludlow has found her art is a way to thank the team of experts that has given son Jim, who also lives in the town, a chance of life.

Jim, aged 39 became unwell two years ago with a cough and was referred by his GP to hospital in Shrewsbury.

Then came a devastating diagnosis that Jim was suffering from cancer.

Hodgkins Lymphoma attacks the body’s lymphatic system that has a key role in fighting infection.

There are two types of lymphoma, Hodgkin’s and non Hodgkins.

In people with the disease some of the lymphocytes don’t work properly. They may not develop properly, divide in an abnormal way or not die when they should.

There can be a build-up of cells in parts of the body such as the neck, armpit or groin where they can be easily felt under examination or in the chest or abdomen where they cannot.

Jim soon became very ill and had the first of three courses of chemotherapy. The drug was given to him in hospital intravenously.

When it was found that it was not working he was sent to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham for a stem cell transplant.

If the bone marrow is damaged and no longer able to produce healthy blood cells then stem cell transplants are sometimes given.

They can also help to replace blood cells that have been damaged by intensive treatment such as high doses of chemotherapy.

Jim’s mum, Diane, who is 56, decided she wanted to support the O’Connor Haematology Unit at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital that first treated her son.

“I wanted to express my gratitude and help in some way,” she said.

Jim, who is a mechanic at Overton Garage in Ludlow, is much better but has to go back to hospital for regular checks every three months.

The unit is named after Dr Nigel O’Connor, one of the consultants that treated Jim.

It is part of the Haematology Unit at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and caters for both out patients and people who like Jim are so ill that they have to be treated in hospital.

Diane has already raised more than £800 that has been used to buy fans for the unit and now she is hoping to buy some more.

“People who are receiving chemotherapy can get very hot and the fans help to keep them cool and more comfortable,” said Diane.

“Because there are not enough fans they have to be shared between patients.”

Diane does a variety of different art work but her speciality tends to be landscapes.

She has set up a marque in her garden at Greenacres in Ludlow. There is a selection of oil, acrylic and wax paintings for sale starting from £10.

Also on sale are greetings cards and slates with messages, art materials and button bouquets and assorted other items.

The sale finishes on Monday (May 29) and is open between 10.30am and 6pm.