Last year on the ward i worked on, we nursed a young man Kieran Bowes. Kieran was a real character and was loved by many. He was an avid rugby fan and a keen enthusiastic player also. Kieran put up a mammoth fight against Non Hodgkins Lymphoma but sadly lost the battle on Valentines Day 2016. he was one of the many patients who stole the hearts of ward staff and doctors alike.
My children were no strangers to my tears at this time. Its impossible to remain professionally distanced all the time, in fact in over 30 years i don't think i ever truly grasped that concept.
This moved my youngest daughter Annie at age 9, to volunteer to have her hair cut for the Princess Trust. This charity makes wigs for youngsters going through chemotherapy. She also asked i could get her sponsors for doing it, to raise funds for research into all cancers as she became more aware of the devastation the disease can bring. There are few families that aren't touched by this disease!!
Later in the year a dear friend and colleague Tracey was diagnosed with oesophageal and is presently going through her treatment. Shortly after another dear friend was diagnosed but to date hasn't stated treatment as we are unable to source the primary and tailor treatment.
Even though you are unable to work, bills and life continue to roll on past, leaving you in the chill of your reality.
Every thing we do in the health service is bound by the constraints of budget!
I hope you will join me in my quest to raise funds for research into NHL, a comfort fund for Tracey and for Paul McGlinchey.
Even though i have stated i would like to raise £3000 , i am happy for this to be a target and not a limit.
for those who have been following this they will know that this is a refreshed page and we already have £860 of the target