Lucy was a positive ferocious spirit - she kicked cancer hard, steadfastly refusing anything negative and prefixing various professionals names with the word " unfortunate" if they dared to use the word!
Her passion for nature and the universe was surpassed only by her passion for people , a desire to understand and help and in doing so reach greater understanding. Her trips to the chemo at Sheldon Unit Good Hope Hospital were a lovely and irreverent affair with nurses and patients benefitting from her wit and positive take on their situation.
The unit is a positive busy place where nurses sit for hours with patients and stay well beyond the end of their shifts.Cups of tea biscuits sandwiches abound and no one leaves unless they are happy with what happens next.
Lucy ,typically could see gaps in the system into which confusion slipped.Her wish was to make things better. To establish a system of communication champions who would absorb the shock people feel when diagnosed and guide them through the various stages, side effects and scans which lie ahead.
Lucy made a strong bond with her consultant and understood the restrictions under which he worked.
It is our hope to now to set something up in her memory which is not just new equipment but a systemic change.... People who can be trained to make sure there are no gaps and that all the various cancer - help areas are coordinated in a simple effective manner.
Please help us.
Lucy like so many lost to the dreaded cancer-bug as we called it, was young , energetic with much still to give. She loved her work mentoring and supporting students and was devoted to protecting and encouraging others to protect her beloved nature.
Helping others to negotiate the many levels of cancer help available was crucial to Lucy.... Her " law" was that people should be helped and supported at every level and that one person should coordinate this.
Please help us !!!
Kate xxxx