Bishop Kenneth is likely to receive a second bone marrow transplant after discovering his leukaemia has returned.

Bishop Kenneth: faces second bone marrow transplant

Doctors have told the 57-year-old that it is worth going through the procedure for a second time.

He is likely to continue with his public duties in the coming weeks before being given chemotherapy and then a bone marrow transplant some time in July. Details of the donor are still being worked out. The transplant will take place at Southampton General Hospital.

The news comes less than a month after Kenneth’s return to public ministry at a service in Portsmouth Cathedral on May 13 for Christians of all denominations throughout Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

“Everything was going swimmingly until 10 days ago, when the doctors noticed that my blood counts had fallen,” he said. “Just to be on the safe side, I had a bone-marrow biopsy, which revealed that the disease has returned. I haven’t felt any symptoms, and they have discovered it as early as they possibly could do.

“The doctors have been very firm that it is worth a second bone marrow transplant, because I am still very fit and because I coped so well with the new bone marrow last time around. Second bone marrow transplants do happen, so it’s not as rare as people might think.

“All being well, we are looking at the same kind of recovery timescale as before – coming back to public ministry five months after the transplant, which should be around Christmas. But I’ll be seeing people at home before then.

“But between now and July, I intend to continue with as many things as I can. I hope to be at diocesan synod in the cathedral on June 23, after which there will be the launch of my latest book. I also want to ordain our new deacons and priests in the cathedral on June 30. Fortunately, the diary was fairly light anyway, as I’m still recuperating. I’m afraid people won’t be able to touch me, as I’m still at risk of infection.

“It has been a blow to hear this news, but I’m going to do my best not to let this illness defeat me! I know that God is there alongside me in all of my confusion and anxiety, and the prayers and support of my family, friends, clergy colleagues, other Christians, and those in the wider community mean more to me than I can put into words.”

Bishop Kenneth hopes that he will still be able to participate in some diocesan events – such as the diocesan conference due to take place in Chichester in September - via the use of technology, such as video links or messages recorded onto CDs or DVDs.

If the bishop’s condition worsens during June, the Rt Rev Trevor Willmott, Anglican Bishop of Basingstoke, is on stand-by to preside at diocesan synod [the diocese’s decision-making forum] on June 23 and to ordain clergy on June 30, as he has done on previous occasions.