“The Spring Centre at the Hospice gives us the opportunity to do something that isn’t hearing more bad news, isn’t yet another medical appointment, not sitting in a waiting room,” share Michael and Louise.
“The Hospice came at the perfect time in our lives when we really needed help.”
Michael is 29 and living with stage 3 brain cancer, having had two surgeries since his diagnosis in 2020, which removed an apple-sized tumour. Having first reached out via self-referral to the Spring Centre (the Hospice’s Wellbeing Centre) for occupational support, Michael has since been supported through reflexology sessions and, together with Louise, attends the popular weekly meditation group.
“Without the Hospice’s Spring Centre, I wouldn’t get up in the morning. I had six weeks of radiotherapy, and now on a year-long chemo cycle. It’s one week per month and I can’t really do much in that period, it wipes me out.”
“We call them ‘Brain tumour days’ and sometimes they are really tough, but the Hospice’s Spring Centre is where Michael can be himself. The staff are so lovely and relatable. We can have proper honest conversations with them.”
“Jerri (Occupational Therapist) helped me get back to work by managing my tiredness and energy levels. We created fatigue diaries, looked at what triggered tiredness, and helped me focus on what’s good for me. I’d already changed career, having been a mechanic before, but after the first brain surgery I just couldn’t remember anything to do with it.”
“Meditation is the time when I’m not thinking about things. I can completely switch off. It gives me a purpose and a reason. In the meditation group we’ve all got some sort of health problem. Everyone opens up and we all benefit from it.”
“The reflexology targets different parts of my body. Sometimes I’ll say I need help with my immune system or metabolism and it really helps make a difference.”
Michael and Louise’s refreshing attitude and positivity is one of the reasons behind their new dog-walking venture, ‘The Pawsitive Pack’ (thepawsitivepack.co.uk).
“It was after a meditation session two months ago that the idea struck me, let's set up a dog walking business. It’s one of our passions and can work around my illness.”
“We’ve just taken on our first two official clients and we’ve got a stall at the Hospice’s Ashridge Garden Party. We wanted Pawsitive Pack to reflect our journey, as it should only have a positive impact,” adds Louise.
“It is sad (living with brain cancer), but it is what it is. I’ve been given what I’ve been given and I have to make the most of it. With a bit of luck I won’t have to change careers again!”
Main photograph: Michael and Louise in the beautiful Hospice gardens
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