Katie Bagshawe

Wow Charlene, what a heartbreaking but inspiring story. I’m surprised I hadn’t heard of this before as it is such an awful tragedy for the team and all those involved, even the fans and the community. What a devastating impact it must have been, but a powerful message to encourage organ donation which as you say, can only be a positive…[Read more]

Hello Mark, thank you for your very kind response. It’s always nice to feel part of a team, especially when you might feel isolated in your illness or isolated as a Carer. I think relationships can easily become very strained if there is no communication, but people also solely label themselves as patient and carer and forget what life was like…[Read more]

Hello Jan, I agree wholeheartedly with your attitude and feel the same. Of course we can’t always be positive, but in the last year or so I’ve found a new attitude in just accepting what you can and can’t do. Let me tell you, boy it is like a weight off your shoulders in just knowing what you can and can’t do, and not putting that pressure on…[Read more]

Flu season is a big thing here in the UK now and there is a lot of marketing to encourage people to get their flu jabs. We’re pretty blessed with our NHS that it’s free to all over 65, to young children and anyone who will be vulnerable. However within Healthcare (and for the NHS) they set targets to ensure staff also get their flu jabs and you…[Read more]

Nice to hear from you Bill and that things seem positive for you considering everything you’ve recently been through. My Dad struggled a lot with the cough also, it was very dry and if it got bad it really triggered his exacerbation. Have you tried eucalyptus oil? That’s brilliant, very similar to menthol in that it’s very good at helping your…[Read more]

Thanks for sharing this Mark, it’s super helpful to know how it might compare. How did you feel post transplant as well? I guess it must be extremely difficult because there are still so many risks to your health, but also knowing this is a clean slate in a lot of circumstances. It would really interest me to interview transplant patients before…[Read more]

My Dad always felt the same with his down days, but myself having lived with depression ever since I can remember, it’s absolutely important that some days you have to accept you can’t fight the blues and just let them weigh you down a little bit. Of course it’s vital your life doesn’t always feel so down, and you find positive mechanisms to cope…[Read more]

I am very lucky indeed to have this gorgeous national park on my doorstep. It’s celebrating 70 years since it was created this year, and it’s also the oldest national park in the UK. Lots of history to it but lots of interesting mythology and ghost stories to be shared as well! Can’t wait to get out with the camera and hopefully share some stories…[Read more]

So! I made the tea loaf and it was actually really lovely. It didn’t taste massively sweet but nice and fruity which makes for a nice change, and all the better knowing there’s no sugar in there as well. Would definitely recommend making and it was super easy to do so. I have got a picture of the finished result but I can’t get it uploaded so will…[Read more]

Thanks for posting on behalf of Bill! It certainly sounds like he’s been through it these past few weeks and I’ve heard that the CPAP machines can be quite distressing. Has anyone had this as it seems to be common practice when admitted to A&E with low oxygen levels? Also, on the same note, how did people go about explaining their oxygen needs…[Read more]

Oh wow your holiday already sounds incredible! I would so be there if it wasn’t for the fact I have study commitments starting in September that are going to be tying me up for the next couple of years. I love the idea of snorkeling and would love to have a go at paddle boarding as I know I would be rubbish at surfing. I love Bethany Hamilton too,…[Read more]

Thanks Mark and lovely to meet you! Landscapes and seascapes are the best kind if you ask me, they can be rather invigorating for the soul and it’s a lovely way to capture a special moment. I’ll keep sharing the more I get into it!

Hello!

Sending my love to you Vijaya in this difficult time. A quick point on the above regarding the lack of oxygen bringing about dementia like symptoms, that has happened on a few occasions with my Dad. Usually in a morning when he was coming around and his oxygen levels were a bit all over the place, he would often appear confused and a…[Read more]

Couldn’t agree more! I love watching medical documentaries and was watching one a few months ago that was following teams working in critical care units. By chance a man was admitted with a serious chest infection, only in his early fifties I believe and it was first understood that it would be a reversible illness. Unfortunately as the episode…[Read more]

Hey Charlene!

I agree with your perspective on the cinema trips, they can be incredibly expensive nowadays so I don’t go all too often. I used to go quite regularly with my Dad until he was on oxygen, we had monthly passes that makes it a lot cheaper if you attend regularly. Once he was sick we went a handful of times but I think he always felt a…[Read more]

Hello Jay,

It was nice to read your response and see it from the perspective of feeling perhaps a little isolated and that there isn’t someone more appropriate to share these feelings and experiences with. What would your thoughts be on speaking to a counselor about your emotions and how you feel you’re coping? Or even perhaps a volunteer that…[Read more]

Hello Lorraine, I’m glad we can be of some sort of help but also it has helped you feel a bit more positive about speaking up in this area as I can understand how frightening and isolating it can become. This forum is a wonderful place, and as Charlene has stressed, is an accepting place so it’s great to feel open to talk about our opinions…[Read more]