‘There’s often a misconception that you only go to a hospice at the end of life, but that’s not the case at all. Blythe House has helped me to live well and enjoy the best quality of life possible.’
Jo, a special educational needs teacher turned trauma counsellor, came to Blythe House Hospice for support after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
As well as accessing hospice services, the Glossop resident turned her hand to art to keep her ‘sane’ during her illness. She attends local craft fairs to sell her work and has already raised over £200 for Blythe House.
Jo explained: ‘I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer completely out of the blue. I’d gone for a routine scan for endometriosis and assumed all my symptoms were linked to that, so it came as a real shock. My dad died of cancer when I was a teenager, and his sister, my auntie, also died from ovarian cancer. Being told brought all of that back, and I really struggled to process it.
‘A colleague suggested I get in touch with Blythe House Hospice. I’d never heard of the hospice before, but I sent an email, and Louise, the Hospice Lead Nurse, got back to me very quickly. At the time I was having treatment and was very conscious about avoiding infections, so she was incredibly adaptable; we spoke over the phone instead. She was so kind and gentle, explaining medical terms, talking me through the support available, and signposting me to other services. Most importantly, she gave me the space to talk and begin to make sense of everything.
‘I’ve suffered badly with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, and Louise referred me to Debs for reflexology. It was lovely, just to feel OK in my own body again. My operation had been so invasive, and the pain afterwards was horrific, especially as I’m allergic to most pain medication and could only take paracetamol. I also had acupuncture, which I was nervous about because I’m scared of needles, but it wasn’t what I expected at all, you can’t feel them, and it was actually a really calming experience.’
‘I had counselling with Lisa to process my diagnosis, and further diagnosis of Lynch Snydrome (a genetic condition that predisposes you to further cancers), which helped enormously. I felt safe and able to say everything I needed to, and she helped me cope with the guilt I was experiencing that I may have passed this on to my children. I attended the Building Resilience course too, which gave me tools to manage stress, anxiety, and the uncertainty that comes with a cancer diagnosis.
‘Wellbeing Wednesday has been another lifeline. It’s a space where people just understand the anxiety; the scans, the blood tests, the constant worry of “has it come back?” It’s the kind of fear you don’t want to share with your family because you don’t want to worry them. At the hospice, you can be completely honest about how you feel and know that you’re understood. I have made real, deep lasting friendships which has been so lovely as getting a cancer diagnosis can feel very isolating.
‘I’ve really enjoyed the nature prescriptions sessions as part of our Wellbeing Wednesday group. I’m creating a monthly art scrapbook inspired by the seasons and the world around me, using drawing, collage and paint. It helps to ground me in the present. Having something to focus on, something that takes your mind away from everything else, is so important. I’ve loved learning about different plants and flowers from the others in the group too.
‘The continuity of care is just seamless. Miriam, the occupational therapist, even came to visit me at home. She arranged a bath seat and looked around my house to offer advice and support for managing my neuropathy. It really helps to make relationships with the people who support you as this doesn’t often happen at hospital, as they see so many patients every day that you can feel invisible.
‘To anyone thinking about contacting Blythe House, I’d say just do it. There’s often a misconception that you only go to a hospice at the end of life, but that’s not the case at all. Blythe House has helped me to live well and enjoy the best quality of life possible. There are so many different types of support, you don’t always know what you might need until you’re offered it. It’s a friendly, non-judgemental space, and for me, it’s been a real sanctuary from the rest of the world.’
