"Amazing Care since the beginning of my Cancer journey"

Thank you to Loretta from Cancer Prehabilitation for her most thoughtful and much appreciated call this past week following my appointment with Therapist Emma at Newry Leisure Center which was a brilliant experience.

Every exercise she did with me in addition to explaining, showing me how and what to do. Her explanations were down-to-earth, full of understanding for me and of obvious empathy for me. She watched my facial expressions and body behaviours closely and I could feel her ‘knowing how’ I was feeling about everything.

Talk about full of the joys of living .... Emma was.... and I left there feeling likewise.

Emma even took time to explain how to prepare my ‘suitcase’ for going into hospital... those small though important details.

In addition her total encouragement throughout, even taking my B/P 3 times, until it reached a comfortable reading, although I wasn’t aware of feeling anxious Emma knew what was going on inside my head?

She is a total gem in this program that is part of the Macmillan Cancer Care which I do trust is able to continue doing this extremely important work that I experienced (first hand) it is doing.

I am taking this opportunity to make mention of Specialists who have been taking such amazing good care of me since the beginning of my cancer journey May 2024.

I have been and continue to be totally blessed and receiving intense and extensive observation and attentions:- ...... I do accept and realize that I have not recorded each person who has played such an important role in my health recoveries but that certainly, in no way, does this mean that I do not remember their face, their invaluable help, their patience, their interest invested in my health, their cheerful attitude....I do feel sad that, in my ‘selfish’ feelings at different stages of this journey, I should have written down their names .... hopefully our paths will cross again but in a non- hospital setting or even in CAH following my surgery and then say thank you.

Okay:- Dr Yousaf. Dr Park, Dr Gemma Corey, Dr Milliken, Dr McElvanna, Dr McKee, Tanya and Jackie Stoma Nurses, Dr Herron & Dr Sharkey my GP’s, Rebecca Staff Nurse at CAH, the young Dr in Bridgewater Suite BCH who explained the possible side effects of my chemo treatments, wonderful Radiologists at BVH, Donna occupational therapist, Phlebotomists, Paula, Sarah (Nurse Specialists), Consultant Dr with Dr Yousaf who did my biopsies, all of the Specialists who supervised my many MRI and CT scans and the NM PET Whole Body FDG at BCH, secretaries to the various Drs who always are cheerful and extremely helpful, the receptionists who register us upon arriving for appointments, those Volunteers who greet us as we wait for chemo radiotherapy, Saorla,  Dietitian who has been with me from July 20/‘24 until my last visit this past week at STH and there are so many more/in my ‘minds eye’ I can see them and hear their voices .... totally not forgetting those loveliest and caring Nurses on level 4- 4North at CAH who took such wonderful care of me last July and perhaps be on my ward! in 2 weeks time - hope so!

Those totally involved folks who gave me /continue to do so valuable information ie:- huge Resources available for cancer patients re: well being of body, mind, spirit as I travel along this totally unexpected cancer journey.

I have never felt alone nor have been afraid since my cancer diagnosis and that is, in huge part, due to the complete package of caring strangers who are in charge of and their expertise is getting me back to (as full as possible) my usual healthy life.

However, I do understand and accept that my future will not be assured as 100% free from cancer but that is how this (unpredictable to large extent) disease works /functions ..... life has its surprises for certain .... I am so blessed for that large group of brilliant minds and experts who ‘have my back.

My continuing positivity and feeling joyful each day is in largest part possible because I am so fortunate and indeed ‘lucky’ to have such a massive support group of brilliant medical minds taking care of me .... and I am acutely aware that I am only one of their many patients relying on and big time appreciative of and for them.