"My absolutely incredible Doctors"

Garstang Medical Centre

I don’t know if anyone knows what it is like to have that one person you can rely on, that one person that smiles as you enter the room and listens to you, whether you are laughing, crying, suicidal, not coping or just purely lost, but I have been so incredibly fortunate to find 2 doctors who fit that bill.

The first helped me in more ways than she will ever know, she fought my corner when I was stuck, she supported me when I cried, and before she left she sat in front of me and said ‘AcapellaRose, I know you are strong, you’re a fighter, I know things will get better for you’. And because of that I have a quote on my bedroom wall which reads ‘ Hey little fighter, soon things will be brighter.’ Wherever she is now, whoever she is treating, they are extremely lucky to have such a wonderful doctor, just as I was.

There is a lot to be said for doctors with compassion and empathy. Too many times I have sat in front of a doctor who preaches that they know everything, and I know nothing and then send me home blaming anxiety. Most of the time they don’t know what's wrong, but say it's in my head. There is a choice you see. When you choose to help, choose to be kind, and choose to believe your patient it shows them they aren’t crazy, and that simple fact just might save their life.

There have been 3 people in my life so far that have saved me from suicide, simply because someone cared. I felt extremely alone, like I had no-one to talk to, no-one that would even try to understand, and those people were there for me and continue to be there, even in some extremely dark places in my life. I have cried my eyes out many times leaving the doctors, partly through relief, partly through sadness, but also gratefulness and appreciation. Whether my appointment was at 9 am or 5pm, they greeted me the same, and treated me with the same care.

So, when the wonderful lady doctor left, it really hit me hard. Much harder than I thought. I was pleased she was doing things for her, but the selfish side of me so desperately didn’t want to be alone again. It seems a lot of the time people leave my life at critical moments, each time I am scared I won’t find anyone else that lives up to them, but before she left she recommended another Doctor to me.

He sat down and asked me what was wrong. At that time I had been experiencing severe migraines and dizziness, and his first port of call, as with most doctors was pills, I am much more about finding the cause, than treating. A little bit like when you feel pain in your foot. Rather than just giving painkillers and antibiotics to prevent infection, I would like doctors to say ‘ let's find out what's causing it.’ Finding the person had stepped on a drawing pin, and removing it is finding the problem and then treating it. So after this first appointment I wasn’t sure. I liked his charm, his imperfect way, and the way he spoke to me, but I was skeptical he would be just another doctor all too happy to prescribe pills, but the Doctor I had trusted had recommended him to me, so I stuck with it. My opinion completely changed. Perfect people are so boring. It is this imperfect nature, ability to make me laugh even when I just want to cry that I find so wonderful.

I found an extremely kind, compassionate doctor, willing to go above and beyond his job to help me and support me. Offering weekly appointments to help me, as my health is in no uncertain terms, currently awful. I am struggling to cope, or to keep myself alive, and I am spending more time crying than not, but I know now I am not alone again anymore.

What my doctors have done for me means the absolute world. They are genuine lifesavers, in more ways than one and deserve so much more recognition than I could possibly put into words!