Meet Janet…

61-year-old Janet was diagnosed with Leukaemia more than ten years ago. She received a bone marrow transplant around 18 months after her diagnosis and then spent the next 18 months in hospital, in complete isolation, with family and friends only allowed to visit through the glass.

The Leukaemia led to other conditions and Janet suffered a heart attack, a stroke and developed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). One of her consultants suggested that Janet could benefit from Dougie Mac’s support and referred her.

Janet explained, “When the Community Nurse from Dougie Mac first contacted me, I wasn’t very well. She came to my house and chatted about the support that was available for me and my family and she was also able to prescribe pain relief, which made a big difference. She also went through a Respect form, which enabled me to set out my wishes for the care I want to receive if anything happens to me.

“I began 1-1 counselling sessions and I joined some of Dougie Mac’s Wellbeing Groups which have been brilliant. I now regularly attend the Walk & Talk, Relaxation and Light Activities groups which are all great, but the biggest benefit to me is the peer support thanks to the people I’ve met. I feel really safe when I go to the Wellbeing Centre. Everyone looks after me and I can lose the worry that I have, and that my family has, because I know I’m safe there. Everyone in the Wellbeing team remembers my name and they’re helpful and friendly, I’ve made some really good friends.

“When I was first referred to Dougie Mac I was nervous and didn’t know what to expect. I thought it was a place I didn’t want to go because it was just for people with Cancer, but I was so wrong. There’s no moping around in our groups, we share our thoughts and ideas and we have a really good laugh and joke, everyone gets me. When some people look at me they just see a poorly person, because of my wheelchair and oxygen, but when I come to Dougie Mac they just see me, not my illness.

“At Christmas we had a party, which was wonderful, a choir from a local school came in and it was so lovely to see the children interacting with the adults. We had a little dance and of course there was tea and cake. I also joined the Winter Get Together which Dougie Mac organised and that was great too. People from different groups all came together and there was lots of information about different services, it was really informative.”

Janet has also benefitted from alternative therapies at Dougie Mac and has enjoyed feet, arms and shoulder massages.

“I absolutely love the therapy treatments, they make me feel so relaxed – I often fall asleep. My carer usually comes with me and the therapist will get a chair ready for her so she can sit with me and just enjoy the quiet time too. The sessions really help me to relax and just switch off for a while.

“The support I receive from Dougie Mac is amazing and it means so much to me and my family. I know that if my husband needs anything he could just pick up the phone and call Dougie Mac and they’d help him, and that’s important to us both.”