Emails from past clients to our Clinicians:-

Really lovely to hear one of our old clients reclaiming their vitality and quality of life.

April 2024

"My "really good phases" are getting quite joined up and I'm finding myself able to do more and more. My head feels different and I have more confidence to do things. Mother's Day was a triumph - driving for 50 minutes, meeting son in a park for a stroll, elevenses and sitting on benches for two hours, and 50 minutes drive home. The after-effects after 48 hours are getting less, so it's all the opposite of a vicious circle, whatever that is. I went to my first gig in 12 months (The Bootleg Beatles - fab!) on Wednesday and yesterday our Wine Circle met at ours and two friends said "Your face looks different" and "You've got your mojo back", which was great to hear. It's been quite a week! My rest periods are cemented into my day and I see no reason ever to give them up. I couldn't have got this far, this successfully and in tandem with all my new good habits, without your patient help, advice, guidance and good humour, and to say "thank you" doesn't begin to cover it. I have a way to go, and maybe I won't reach perfection, but my good habits and I will do our best. "

April 2024

“It's a long update as I have a lot to tell you. 

The last conversation I had with Amanda was talking about applying for a role as Manager of the food bank in Guildford (10 mins from my home). I am delighted to say I was offered the role. It was advertised at 30 hrs a week, so I told them I would like to do a maximum of 22.5 (my new hours at Grant Thornton). They agreed and I have been there since October 2023. 

As soon as I had resigned from my previous employer my resting heart rate dropped by about 5 bpm.

I absolutely love it my job. I manage my own calendar, I oversee 115 wonderful volunteers and manage our full-time administrator. 

I also go into the community to build relationships with our donors and referring organisations. I report in the the board of Trustees, who pretty much let me get on with things. 

I decide what our priorities are, which then have to change, as something else comes up! I just tell the Trustees that some of our projects have to move. I get to see people every day, or not, if I choose to work from home. I meet our volunteers and clients as well as working alongside our administrator to serve people as best we can. 

I work my hours across 4 days, aiming for a 3 day weekend,  but my day off is flexible around work/personal commitments. Our Chair of Trustees is very supportive and tells me to take half a day off if I need to....I find this very hard to do, but it is lovely not to have any pressure to be present. 

I had some physiotherapy on my back last summer and this gave me the confidence in my body to join our local gym. Once I started doing regular cardio exercise, my energy levels increased again. 

Last autumn we had a short break in Malvern. I walked up the Malvern hills which, 18 months earlier, I wouldn't have thought would have been possible. 

I am continuing to monitor my energy levels and still use the Visible app each day. This is especially helpful in letting my husband know how I am and flaggingto me when my body is under stress that I have been ignoring. Paul is used to me saying I'm tired,  but when I have been overdoing it, I can say, "I've been a 1/5 for 2 days in a row, I need to do something differently", he can then help me think it through and tell me to go and sit down! 

In January 2025 I had an exploratory laparoscopy. Nothing sinister was found. However, it has taken me a really long time to get my energy back to where it was at the start of the year and am still not there yet. Not being able to exercise for a few weeks really took its toll. I knew that I needed to get out of the house to exercise once I had healed, but feeling completely exhausted and just about able to manage work felt like all I could manage. In March as my energy levels seemed to drop further, I stopped "protecting" myself and started walking to the train station again, instead of driving. This has helped. I still need to get back to the gym, but currently what I am doing is good enough for now (is that OK Alex? )

This weekend has been particularly tough as I'm helping my Mum care for my Dad before he goes into a care home tomorrow. Yesterday I was exhausted and could have gone for a nap, but instead went for a brisk walk for an hour, which did me a lot of good. I'm writing this while my Dad sleeps. 

I hope all of the above has let you know that your help in 2022 and 2023 has been incredibly valuable to me. I am still finding it hard to accept that I can't do as much as I used to, however, I can do a lot. My job, though emotionally tough at times, is just what I need. I am planning this summer to do less at home, as I know my parents will need me more. I can still hear many of my conversations with you all in my head and I talk aboit pacing to anyone who will listen!

I'm happy for you to use any quotes from what I have said here in publicity materials, or conferences etc with my first name. If you would like something concise (but very hard to put in very few words) it would be the following:

"Beverly, Alex and Amanda supported me amazingly well for just over a year. Through working with them, I have learnt what is good for me and what isn't. I have changed my job to a role which much better suits how I like to work, I have proof that exercise increases my energy levels rather than depletes them and I have started heavier gardening jobs again. I feel like I have got my life back." 

Thank you all, you are amazing. 

Very best wishes, Jessica

Jess at the top of the hill and resting with her son.