Dawn

In the summer of 2021, I began to feel very tired after eating lunch to the point of sleeping a lot of the afternoon. I just didn’t feel myself but carried on putting it down to the stress of Covid and my husband being diagnosed and treated successfully for prostate cancer.

My family noticed other differences in me and, after blood tests, I was admitted as an emergency as my liver was showing what they said was deranged changes. No visitors followed for a total of eight weeks and, by then, I was very yellow and poorly. I was prepared by the doctors for cancer of the liver, everything pointed to it, and eventually a liver biopsy diagnosed auto-immune disease of the liver.

At first, as you can imagine, I was relieved but realism set in when the massive doses of prednisolone, immunosuppressants and other drugs really took their toll on me. I began to get very frightened and depressed. I lost lots of weight as I could only eat small amounts, my hair started to fall out, and my face had blown up like a balloon. The fact that I now had a disease that would be with me for life hit me and I genuinely didn’t know where to turn. My family were all bewildered with how long I had been poorly and constantly asked how I was and if I was feeling better.

Lying in bed one night, I suddenly thought of Willow Wood. My symptoms, medication and quality of life, due to side effects, were very similar to people with cancer and I wondered if they could help me.

The morning after, I spoke to a lady called Glynis who listened to my story and promised to look into whether I could access any of the therapies and other services at Willow Wood. Covid was still around so services were very limited. She rang me back the next day and offered me an appointment to see if there was anything Willow Wood could do to help.

As soon as I walked into Willow Wood, I relaxed. I forgot about my appearance and the fact I was so weak I could hardly walk wasn’t a problem as help was on hand.

Following a lengthy question session, filling forms in, I was given a lovely cup of tea and a biscuit and met a wonderful lady called Sharon, who offered me four reflexology sessions to hopefully help with my very swollen feet and maybe help me sleep.

Coming to Willow Wood in those dark days not only helped me, but also my family as they could see a difference every time I came.

I have also been very lucky to have accessed counselling with Beth, something I had never done before but this has helped me accept my illness more and feel I still have a future, even if it’s uncertain. I was also able to join a ladies group and enjoyed listening and sharing stories with them and even though that has now been dissolved to bring in changes to the outpatient side of Willow Wood, I have made some lovely friends to keep in touch with.

I am at the moment having a ‘holiday’ from the medication that gives me side effects and have had the privilege of being one of the first people to take part in a six-week programme. This is designed to give you a taster of six different activities, ranging from yoga and gardening to art therapy and music and movement. Janet, Mandy and their team have been absolutely wonderful and couldn’t do enough for us. The gardening activity with Sophie was very informative and we even managed to be outside! I have genuinely enjoyed every week and felt it was perfectly pitched for all levels of fitness.

I will never be able to express my gratitude to Willow Wood Day Services. Living with an illness, whatever it is, can be a lonely, difficult place and my time at Willow Wood has and continues to be a bright light in a dark time.

INTERESTED IN OUR DAY SERVICES?

If you would like more information about our Day Services, you can call our Wellbeing team on 0161 330 1100 or visit www.willowwood.org.uk/about-us/how-to-refer