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My birthday is soon approaching and I want to use this as an opportunity to say a massive thank you to those who have supported me over the last year. 

Firstly to my wonderful husband for all of the care and patience he has given. To all my children and their partners. My parents. Close family and friends. The emotional support they provided is invaluable. They’ve picked me up, dusted me down and helped me move forward. Too many to mention! And finally, to the local NHS. Whom without, I simply would not be here. 

But just saying thank you doesn’t seem enough. So I’ve set up a Just Giving page to raise funds that will help keep these NHS systems going. Please, please read xxx

On the June 12th it will be my 55th birthday. A birthday that last July I did not think I would see. I am blessed to not need material gifts, so a donation of any amount, no matter how small, to Withybush Hospital, to provide services and activities above and beyond what the NHS in Wales can would be fantastic! This plea comes from my own diagnosis of very aggressive breast cancer. 

It started with my intentional weight loss, which then lead to finding a  lump in my left armpit. A doctors’s appointment was made for the afternoon 15th July, thinking it was ‘just a cyst’. During that appointment, my doctor found a lump in my breast. It took her a while, as it was deep and tricky to feel. I was then put into the system to have an appointment with the specialist clinic. “Here we go” I thought. The strain of COVID-19 on our NHS, combined with the cuts our wonderful local hospital has undergone, left me worried about how long this would all take!

Just seven days later, I had my appointment and biopsies were taken from the lumps found. Ten days later, the diagnosis nobody ever wants to hear came back. Cancer.

Our world shattered before us. I had mammograms, scans, ultrasounds and X-rays and thankfully, it had not spread further. Chemotherapy started on 30th August, less than one month since I first found the lumps, on the CDU ward. To say my feet never touched the ground is an understatement! All in the midst of a global pandemic. 

What followed was 8 rounds of intense chemotherapy every 21 days. I suffered 3 hospitlisations due to neutropenia on the ACDU ward, ward 10 and A+E. And during each stay, everyone kept me safe! The CDU were fantastic and helped with every problem that arose because of my cancer treatment. Such an approachable, friendly unit!  

After my chemotherapy treatment, in February 2021, I underwent a mastectomy and had all lymph nodes removed. What followed were home visits by District Nurses for just over two weeks.

I’m now, thankfully, on my journey of recovery. I am still required to undergo radiotherapy, infusions every six months and a specified drug every day for the foreseeable future. 

The fast response of my local NHS saved my life! Everyone was and still are amazing. Now take into consideration the impact of COVID-19 on these peoples’ jobs on top of caring for cancer patients. With every test I took, blood samples taken, with how vulnerable the chemotherapy made me, they kept me safe.

As well as our local NHS, I also want to thank the Macmillan  Nurses, especially Wendy and Tess, the Breast Care Nurses affiliated to Mr Maxwell’s Clinic.

I’m humbled by what family and friends have done and are still doing for us. The risk of COVID-19 meant that being together - even when restrictions were lifted - was impossible. Friends offered their own home for my children, so that they could isolate to keep me safe and wave across a garden fence. The prayers, presents, cards, food, phone calls, messages…the list is really endless! We are so grateful.

As it is my birthday I want to pay back in whatever way I can. So, I’ve set up this Just Giving page, in the hope that funds raised will help the incredible work being done in Withybush Hospital and our local NHS. I would not be here without the swift and safe way I was cared for. 

Money that is raised will go towards the above mentioned, CDU/Ward 10, ACDU and the Macmillan Nurses based at Withybush Hospital some of the wonderful, life saving areas of our local NHS care systems.