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My experience of being taken through a bone marrow biopsy

Posted By wezenby37

"My experience of being taken through a bone marrow biopsy"

About: Western General Hospital / Haematology

(as the patient),

I was so moved by the human and patient centred approach to taking me through this procedure. I wrote on social media the following which got a lot of attention.  I want to thank the doctor and team at the Western General Edinburgh.  My appointment was at the end of March - I do not remember the doctors name.  Here is my text from my social media post: 

Yesterday's hospital visit was a truly life affirming experience. My doctor was a wonderful conversationalist who put me a ease- punctuating factual information about what was happening, what to expect along with knowledgeable and passionate discussion about culture. She had a deep love of music and believed it is what makes us human. On learning languages- 'with each language we learn we learn what it is to be human again' - I loved that. She was from central Europe and talked about her love of dance and musical traditions and the variation in repertore and costume between areas not more than 12 km away from each other. My grandad used to tell me about some of these traditions in my piano lessons. I talked about him. It was the 8th anniversary of his death on Tuesday.

The nurse asked if I could tell her the name of a piece composed by him and she looked 'Ae Gowden Lyric' up on Spotify. There was silence and the nurse started tearing up. 'This is so beautiful'. And it was and this was a wonderful team to share with. I listened freshly to the piece as if hearing for the first time. It couldn't have been more fitting- written originally as a setting of MacDiarmid poem 'better ae golden lyric than the Castle's soaring wa' - better ae gowden lyric than onythin else ava'.

I felt gratefulness for everything. For all these gentle people and their kindness. Grandad would have loved the connections and story and I felt relieved that I had barely noticed a potentially gruesome (if you think about it - but it isnt- only sore later) procedure of drilling through pelvis to obtain bone and marrow sample- a test as a process of elimination. Nothing worrying. https://open.spotify.com/track/5aPOOZZrNfQaQQRjIoADCl?si=nrg4M12ZSxya99O9aOTVtg

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Responses

Response from Claire Withnell, Patient Experience Officer, Patient Experience Team, NHS Lothian 12 months ago
Claire Withnell
Patient Experience Officer, Patient Experience Team,
NHS Lothian

Submitted on 24/04/2023 at 15:18
Published on Care Opinion at 15:18

picture of Claire Withnell

Dear wezenby37,

My name is Claire and I work for the Patient Experience Team. I want to thank you for sharing your kind words with us on Care Opinion, particularly as you had already shared your positive experience on Social media, gaining a lot of attention.

Your hospital visit reflects a true patient-centred experience, involving what matters to you with discussions around music, culture and your Grandad. It sounds as if the fact you were able to have these conversations with the staff at a time when you were undergoing your bone marrow biopsy, has put you at ease and provided you with reassurance and kindness. I was pleased to read also that you said this procedure was “nothing worrying”.

We have been in touch with the Clinical Haematology team at the Western General Hospital to ensure they are aware of your kind feedback. I am sure they will be delighted to receive it.

Once again thank you for sharing,

Best wishes,

Claire

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