Page 48 • The HERALD • 7th December 2023 v SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SPECIALISTS v Professional, safe ear wax removal service delivered in the comfort of your own home. We use microsuction, water irrigation and manual ear wax removal to suit the different needs of our clients. To book your appointment please call Gosia on 07591 036071 or email: info@watersideearcare.com UPCOMING COURSES Level 3 Award in First Aid at Work (FAW) Wednesday 31st January to Friday 2nd February Monday 18th to Wednesday 20th March 2024 Level 3 Award in First Aid at Work requalification (R-FAW) Monday 25th to Tuesday 26th March 2024 Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) Tuesday 19th December 2023 Monday 15th January 2024 Wednesday 31st January 2024 Monday 18th March 2024 Level 3 Award in Paediatric First Aid (PFA) Tuesday 16th January to Wed 17th January 2024 Level 3 Award in Paediatric First Aid (PFA) Blended course (6 hours e-learning prior to attending for 1 day face to face training) Thursday 1st February 2024 Level 1 Award in Fire Safety Awareness Tuesday 30th January 2024 Thursday 28th March 2024 Level 2 Award in Fire Safety Awareness Thursday 14th December 2023 Thursday 29th February 2024 Monday 29th April 2024 Level 2 Award in Working at Height Tuesday 30th January 2024 Thursday 28th March 2024 Level 3 Award in Mental Health First Aid in the Workplace Tuesday 12th and Wednesday 13th March 2024 For more information or to book please visit our website: www.RGLSafety.co.uk or call: 023 8160 0650 Health, Beauty & Wellbeing The Podium 023 8086 9080 3 Marchwood Village Centre, Marchwood One answer to foot problems Christmas is About the Presence, Not the Presents When 41-year-old single Mum, Rose, felt too tired to cook Christmas dinner in 2020, she put it down to the stress of the previous couple of years. She says: “In January 2019, my Mum died and then my son was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. A few weeks later, I decided to apply for my dream job as a back to bed. When the New Year arrived and I still felt tired, I had a GP appointment. My blood tests and stool sample showed it was likely I had Crohn’s or celiac disease. Everything changed I was referred for a routine endoscopy and colonoscopy and when I saw the mass on the screen, I knew it was serious. In March 2021, I was told I had aggressive bowel cancer. They said they would remove the tumour and I would be able to get on with my life. But further scans showed that the cancer was aggressive and had spread to my ovaries and womb. I was told I needed chemotherapy. I was in shock and just kept thinking I needed to do the school run. I walked to collect my children feeling numb. Explaining to them that Mummy had cancer was horrible. It deeply affected my daughter, who was then 10. She had to help care for me, our home and her seven-year-old brother with his health needs. My treatment was awful. I wasn’t allowed to take anyone to my appointments or treatment, because of restrictions. I had chemotherapy, surgery, then more chemo. It affected my nerves badly and I struggled to walk or talk. My treatment eventually ended at the end of 2021. That Christmas was quiet as the enormity of the year sunk in, and I struggled to cope with ongoing health conditions from the treatment. 2022 brought another blow By 2022 I wanted to start enjoying life again and creating fun experiences for my children. They deserved it! But I had another blow when I was diagnosed with a bone-weakening condition caused by my cancer treatment. My friends and family struggled to support me. I felt so lost and isolated, and I still needed to complete University assignments. I didn’t know where to start. Brighter days I remember walking past Wessex Cancer Support’s centre in Hythe and emailing them, asking for help. Shortly afterwards the Centre Manager, Maureen, called me. She was so warm and welcoming. She invited me to the centre, and I met Phil, the charity’s wellbeing coordinator, and we put together a package of support, just for me. I spoke to the befrienders, had re-sit the assignments and complete the course. I tried to concentrate on giving my children a great Christmas after a tough year. I’m usually super-organised, but I felt exhausted and so everything slipped. I left it to the last minute to buy a tree and ended up with an eight-foot one that I somehow had to wrestle into the car and house. It cost me a fortune! Christmas Day passed in a blur because I was exhausted and had to go Cognitive Behavioural Therapist. It meant working full time and going back to University. I was ecstatic when I found out I’d got the job. My children, who were eight and five at the time, started after-school club and it felt amazing to be studying again, meeting new people and fulfilling a dream I’d had since I was 19. I wanted a great Christmas after a tough year. I was doing well at University, but in March 2020 Covid-19 hit and sent the UK into its first lockdown. I started to feel very tired but put it down to the stress and pressure I was under. That November, I failed my university course. I remained optimistic. I could Rose Continued on page 49
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