Johnnie Walker terminally ill

Chardy

For those of us in our teens in the 60s

Johnny Walker
11pm on Radio Caroline
Percy Sledge
When a man loves a woman
Johnny was The Man then. And his mum ran his fan club. Happy memories

The ‘Goodnight Spot’ - I used to listen in bed with my radio on my ear. I was madly in love with Johnnie - the only fan club I ever joined.
Loved Frinton Flashing too.
I wouldn’t listen to Radio 1 for years.

chardy and * Nannyknit*
I too would listen to Johnnie on Radio Caroline under the bed clothes. I fell in love with his wonderful voice and choice of music. Kiss in the Car and Percy Sledge. Such happy memories and so sad that he is now so unwell

I loved his double act and antics with Sally Boazman. They would have me laughing out loud as I drove home from work.

Stealing one of Terry Wogan’s ‘pips’ was a genius bit of comedy for radio.

I do hope he spends his remaining time in comfort.

My friend is living with IPF, as a outlier in terms of survival, and is currently on a 'waiting list' to get on the waiting list for the next level of drugs. It is only provided at approx 6 leading hospitals in the UK and even her local consultant can't get her on the proper waiting list. Friend basically diagnosed herself as she had seen family members with same disease. This also means she knows what the end will be like.

My friend who I suppose you’d describe as an “outlier” was lucky to be treated at the Brompton Hospital although she lived over 50 miles away and getting there was difficult and expensive.
Sadly a procedure for kidney stones led to an infection which she was unable to fight off - or the local hospital couldn’t- and she died a little over a week later.
From what I have read, she may have been “lucky” in a way as she was still playing golf a week before being admitted and a vibrant active person.

She may also not have had IPF. Other types of PF are slower growing and less aggressive, and if PF starts in an older person, they may well die of something else first.

Interestingly - and infuriatingly - drugs for IPF have, for years, been available as soon as someone is diagnosed in Scotland, whereas in England, until very recently they were only available to those whose lung capacity was significantly reduced. Given that being active is one of the best things people with IPF can do, not treating them until they are too breathless to do much is a false economy (now recognised, but too late for many)

And yes, Centres of Excellence are thin on the ground. Our nearest is 40 miles away, often well over an hour’s drive, and not accessible by public transport from here.

Very sad. Loved his radio shows and music choices. Great sense of humour and interesting to listen to. Quality presenter.

I have been to 2 IPF funerals in the last few weeks, one of a delightful kind musician aged 60 who spent his life bringing music to those with disadvantages in life, and to young people. His decline was awful to behold.

Sad news knew he wasn’t well as I listen to him every Sunday and his voice has got weaker. I feel like he’s been a great part of my life radio 1 then drive time and now on a Sunday afternoon family knows we’ll be listening. I’m listening now to him feeling rather sad. God bless him hope he has more Sundays and can keep going. Love you johnnie.

Sad news. I used to love listening to Johnny when I had a regular commute by car.

Oh my gosh such sad news. I used to listen to Johnie And allergy during lunch time way back then n 1973-1975 and have followed him since his return from America.
He has always been a part of my life since then. God bless you Johnie and thank you for the music.

I recently enjoyed Clash Of The Pirates that he did with Tony Blackburn to celebrate 60 years of Radio Caroline.

My DH died of pulmonary fibrosis in July 2007 . From his diagnosis to his death was 7 weeks . He was breathless when we attended a friends wedding in April that year and he went to see our GP at the beginning the of May who prescribed antibiotics which didn’t help . He went for an Xray of his chest at the end of May . He was sent to see a chest consultant in June when he got diagnosed with PF and told that he needed home oxygen and may need a lung transplant in the future . His condition worsened within weeks and he was admitted to hospital . The consultant showed my daughter and I the latest X-rays and it was as if his lungs were wiped out ! He only lived one more week so none of us had chance to come to terms with his illness or his death .

Blossoming

Very sad, loved his shows.

He is still on air , sitting sometimes in his wheelchair with an oxygen mask 🙏
He said that this is what keeps him going 😘

Thisismyname1953

My DH died of pulmonary fibrosis in July 2007 . From his diagnosis to his death was 7 weeks . He was breathless when we attended a friends wedding in April that year and he went to see our GP at the beginning the of May who prescribed antibiotics which didn’t help . He went for an Xray of his chest at the end of May . He was sent to see a chest consultant in June when he got diagnosed with PF and told that he needed home oxygen and may need a lung transplant in the future . His condition worsened within weeks and he was admitted to hospital . The consultant showed my daughter and I the latest X-rays and it was as if his lungs were wiped out ! He only lived one more week so none of us had chance to come to terms with his illness or his death .

😘 So very sad to read your post

Me Too , We went to a Theatre show a few years ago where Johnnie was giving a talk on his life , from back in those Pirate radio days through to his Radio 2 days 😘🙏

charley68

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a terrible disease/illness. It is a terminal illness, they average length of life from diagnosis to death is between 2 - 5 years. The lung tissue gradually becomes stiffer and thicker, meaning that there is great difficulty in oxygen passing through to the blood from the lungs. Oxygen is a necessity, but eventually even that is not enough. The slightest exertion causes extreme breathlessness, and that can be just standing up, taking one or two steps, or just sitting on the toilet. It is a terrible thing, and trying to keep calm and keep the panic at bay is a full time job..

I worked with a respiratory team for many years, and looked after many people with IPF.
There are some different types of pulmonary fibrosis, and some more treatable than others, but IPF is the worst type.

My brother in law was diagnosed with it at 60 yrs, and died 2 years later. There is no treatment, some drugs will help for a short time, and lung transplant is the optimal, but that wait can be terrible and futile. Palliative care with a skilled team is necessary.

One of our friends was diagnosed and died just over two years later.
At one time he was put forward for a lung transplant, but by the time he went in to be assessed they said he was past the stage at which it would help.
It is a truly terrible illness thoughout which he was incredibly stoical and his death has left a huge hole in many people's lives.

Thisismyname1953

My DH died of pulmonary fibrosis in July 2007 . From his diagnosis to his death was 7 weeks . He was breathless when we attended a friends wedding in April that year and he went to see our GP at the beginning the of May who prescribed antibiotics which didn’t help . He went for an Xray of his chest at the end of May . He was sent to see a chest consultant in June when he got diagnosed with PF and told that he needed home oxygen and may need a lung transplant in the future . His condition worsened within weeks and he was admitted to hospital . The consultant showed my daughter and I the latest X-rays and it was as if his lungs were wiped out ! He only lived one more week so none of us had chance to come to terms with his illness or his death .

So very sorry to hear this, it must have been so shocking for you and your family.