Maggie's Centre

You can't beat the NHS no matter how our politicians try to ruin it, long may it continue to heal and look after us in our hours of need; which seem to be plenteous in my life right now. I have had brilliant unstinting care and support from all the staff at the Western General Hospital since my cancer diagnosis back in May. Six months ago would you believe?

The nurses, doctors, my oncologist, my consultant and all the specialist staff  I've come into contact with have been the best I could possibly ask for. But this post is not about them but about Maggie's Centre.

Most people in Scotland will have heard about Maggie's Centres, as I had myself, giving to collections and probably not giving it another thought and certainly not expecting, one day to need it's services or to become a regular attendee there. That was not part of the grand plan at all. 

When I was told that I had cancer I was devastated, confused and not a little upset. In fact I felt quite lost at times, and no matter how much support and help I had from family and good friends, at the end of the day I was still on my own and still feeling devastated.

The fact that I no longer feel so devastated is in no small part down to the support I have found in Maggie's Centre. I reckon that my philosophical chats with my good friend John Llewelyn and the support from Maggie's have helped me come to terms with, and have a better understanding of what's been happening to me. I look to the future with a little more confidence and determination, not to say defiance, expecting to make a full recovery but knowing Maggie's will be there either way.

I know there are some people who read my blog who probably know nothing about Maggie's Centres being as they live elsewhere, so maybe this link will help   www.maggiescentres.org

The original idea came from Maggie Keswick Jencks who was treated for cancer at the Western General Hospital and she along with her husband Charles Jencks were the co-founders of the centres, though she herself did not live long enough to see the first one opened here in Edinburgh. There are now twelve centres in the UK, including one in Cheltenham, which I plan to visit next year. There is also one in Hong Kong and many more planned, even one in Barcelona, which I also hope to visit.

If you have ever sat in a hospital waiting room to see a doctor, or for your MRI/CT scan or your therapy  or whatever you will know how lonely it can be, despite all the care and support from the staff there who are invariably run off there feet, but  still managing to be friendly and cheerful with little time for chit chat. Maggie realised that there was something else needed by patients, hence the Centres. You can read all about them on line so I won't repeat it here.

I should mention that I was gently persuaded by my cancer specialist nurse to check it out. I was reluctant at first, thinking that I could survive without support. Crap of course. So thank you Sue for persevering. Cancer specialist nurses are a great idea too. I don't know how I would have coped without you Sue. You were there for me every time I got hard news and you were generous with your love and care. Thank you.

So what do I do at Maggie's? Well Seonaid, Izzi, and Andy work there and are all trained nurses who specialise in cancer work. They are there for me whenever I need them, to offer counselling, advice, information and moral support. Than you one and all. And I hope I've spelt your name correctly Izzi?

Every Thursday morning I go to a support group with other cancer patients and we just chat. I think this group has become the highlight of my week. We usually have about eight or ten folk attending and Seonaid or Andy joins us to keep us on the right track and offer support or advice or guidance as required. I can't imagine life without my support group. What a brilliant group you are folks.

I can't remember all your names but I'm sure you will forgive me for that, but it is true to say that you have become like a family to me. Your love and good wishes mean the world to me. I would never have believed that a group of people I had never met before could become so important for me in such a short space of time.

You entertain me, you make me laugh and cry along with you. You inspire me. I will never forget about the teeth..... I know you will think about me on Thursday, so for that I thank you. I hope Seoanaid will be able to forward a link to my blog to you all. And you have my permission ,Seonaid to read this out to the group on Thursday. Thank you folks and I will see you in December and good wishes in all your own dealings with the NHS.

Been listening to Bob Marley, Punky Reggae Party and why not Bob?