Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I'm fund raising for two causes and would really appreciate it if you could also look at Heather's Story - Playbox theatre - click on team link to get there. thank you.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNW8w1FziTs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIrRXsY073k&feature=youtu.be

September 2013. Routine mammogram. Wasn't aware of anything wrong, nothing felt, nothing seen, no weird sensations. Results in a couple of weeks.

 Less than 1 week later, a call back.

 I took myself along to Walsgrave Hospital.  Couple of hours later, instead of going straight over Longbridge Island roundabout, I turned left and headed for Dream Factory,  home of Playbox Theatre .Made everyone a coffee,let what had happened sink in

 October 2013, John & I walked into The Helen Clark Suite for the first time. 

My immediate impression was of calm, caring, safety. No-one wants to hear the words "yes, it's cancer" but I thought if that's what it is, then I'm glad I'm here.   This place is OK. I could almost say i like it.

As it turned out, Cancer  1 was  pre-cancer changes,  non invasive.. A lumpectomy, they got it all , follow up mammograms. Phew - I thought. I am soooo lucky. Mammograms are not exactly fun but better than other treatments

1 year later, 1st follow up mammogram. And also the day I was told about Cancer 2.  My support nurse walked down to Helen Clark Suite, with me. We were shown in to the quiet room. By the time Xrays were done, John was there - and so were tea and biscuits. 

John, Tracey & I spent well over an hour in the quiet room, but the Helen Clark team left us in peace.  They knew we needed that time to get our heads around what I'd just been told. Didn't matter that Tracy was from a different department. We were hearing things no-one wants to hear, they had a place that we could sit and try and take it in. They let us use it.

Lucky again. A few ops, lots and lots of follow ups (still on going) But no treatment.

November 2016. This time I knew something was wrong, but I hoped. Less than 48 hours after my mammogram, I was back in the Helen Clark Suit having an ultrasound and biopsy.   7 days later, back again,  a surface biopsy and results of the needle biopsy. Cancer 3. Invasive, already reached the skin,pretty big.  Operation set for beginning December and full scale war on the little so & so early 2017. 

The Helen Clark team have been great. Patient, supportive, gentle when scars are healing, encouraging when spirits are flagging. Nothing is to much trouble - an address was supplied when I couldn't find a post surgery bra and the local department store was - well, not exactly helpful. No question stupid, all corny jokes chuckled at. Tissues to hand when the tears threaten. A smile when a rainbow is spotted through the sky light.

Patients in the Helen Clark Suite are people, with names and feelings and all the gumph that makes us human. The team never forget that. No-one is a number, every one is a person with a name, we are all treated with respect, with professionalism, but also with humanity and caring in bucket loads

They do a job I could never do. Yes, it helps that the unit they work in is so carefully, thoughtfully, designed. The NHS (touch wood) look after the medical side of things. I'd like to help keep the special touches going. Little things that help lift the spirits. Some winter flowering cherries for the court yard would be a start. Delicate, beautiful,  surviving and brightening grey days.  Help me say thank you to an amazing team, Just Give a wee bit, let's make that court yard something special, even when the world around seems bleak. 

Thank You