‘It is a privilege to work for such an incredible organisation that is close to my heart. Never did I think I would become a patient after starting work here in 2016.’
Katie, from Chelmorton near Buxton, has been a healthcare assistant with the Blythe House Hospice at Home team since its launch in 2016.
When she was caring for her terminally ill mother many years ago, it was first suggested to Katie that she should consider a career in care.
Katie said: ‘With a young family, it wasn’t an option at the time, but as our children grew, I started working first as a home help assistant for social services. Later, I took on private patients and was able to provide personal care for them in their own homes.
‘When a job opportunity arose at Blythe House Hospice, I applied and was one of the first staff members at the launch of the new Hospice at Home service.’
Hospice at Home, one of many services provided by Blythe House Hospice, supports patients who are assessed to be within the last 12 months of life and wish to be cared for in the comfort of their own surroundings, with loved ones by their side.
Katie said: ‘It is extremely rewarding because you are making a real difference during the most difficult times of their lives. You see what patients and families gain from our visits, and knowing you are helping in some way makes it all worthwhile.’
Since she started working at the hospice, Katie has worked all over the High Peak and across North Derbyshire, mainly on night shifts: ‘For families, it gives them time to do what they need to do, catching up on things. If it is an overnight sit, it provides the family with an opportunity for a good night’s rest.
‘It also gives us a chance to interact with the patient and bring the outside world to them. We talk about all sorts of things, we can sit and play games, listen, hold their hand, or simply talk about things they may be thinking or feeling.
‘It is a privilege because they have to trust and respect us to allow us into their homes in the first place.’
But Katie’s life was turned upside down in 2022 when her own cancer journey began following a holiday with her husband, David, and friends.
Katie, on the right, at the Hospice at Home service launch event in 2016.
‘My friend Sarah, a district nurse in London, pulled me to one side as our holiday came to an end. She asked me to make an appointment with my GP because she had noticed a mark on my thigh that concerned her. She had a niggling feeling that it might be melanoma (a type of skin cancer) and wanted me to get it checked out.
‘If it hadn’t been for Sarah, I would have been in a real mess. It never dawned on me that it was anything out of the ordinary – I thought I had always had it.
‘I made that appointment with my GP, was referred to dermatology, and within hours, I had undergone surgery. Within a week, I was told it was melanoma skin cancer. I received follow-up appointments but was discharged within the year.
‘Unfortunately, exactly 18 months after my first melanoma, I found a very different type of lump under my skin, close to the original site. Again, I was referred to dermatology, underwent various scans and a fine needle aspiration, and was told my cancer had returned. This time, the lump was removed, and I was informed that I would require a year of immunotherapy.
‘My life changed in an instant – I was thrown into a world of uncertainty; appointments, tests, scans, and, of course, immunotherapy infusions. At times, it was hard and cruel, as various glands in my body stopped working.
‘My GP encouraged me to make a self-referral to Blythe House Hospice to access services for myself. Once I placed the call to Hannah, one of the care navigators, I never looked back. I gained so much confidence and had a fantastic team of clinical nurses, counsellors, and therapists by my side.
‘I joined the Well-Being Wednesday Group; a confidential support group led by clinical nurses – a place where you can just be yourself. It’s where we make friends and share our experiences. We recognise similarities and learn coping strategies to overcome emotions, anxieties, and fears about medical procedures, expectations, fatigue, and uncertainty. We learn about building resilience, body image, and so much more.
‘We have even had a course of relaxation called ‘Motion is Lotion’ to help us unwind, as well as taster sessions of physiotherapy-led Pilates, yoga, Qi Gong, and Otago, all of which help our bodies and minds relax.
‘Attending this group makes you realise you are not the only person out there having doubts, worries, or anxieties. Whatever question you ask, others have experienced or are experiencing it.
‘No matter how you think you sound, these questions and fears are extremely real to all who attend this group.
‘All the skills, experiences, and friendships I have gained through Well-Being Wednesday will stay with me forever.
‘Obviously, I will still have to attend follow-up appointments at The Christie for many years to come, but one thing I will never forget is all the support and kindness I have received from everyone at Blythe House Hospice.
‘It is truly an honour to work for such an incredible organisation.’
Katie is looking forward to returning to work and getting on with the rest of her life. She also plans to meet up with her friend, Sarah soon: ‘I really owe my life to Sarah and her diligence and perseverance.’
Find out more about the services provided here at Blythe House Hospice
