Bit of an odd one, having spent 4 years getting myself well, starting with the local drink and drug help charity, through the local hospital and alcohol services. Then onto the Royal Free culminating in transplant, not one person has judged me, everyone has been amazingly supportive and kind, for which I am eternally grateful.
Now at home and recovering albeit slowly, my mind has turned to putting something back. I went through the local volunteer centre website and saw a request for service users at the aforementioned drink and drug charity, good start I thought. Made an application got an email from a staff member and had a positive chat with one of the counsellors. She explained that she would email the service user lead, my first point of contact 4 years ago. Back then he got me to the local psychiatric hospital with a view to rehab.
It didn’t sit comfortably with me and I returned to my peer group. Realising things were going downhill, I went to the hospital.
As I know the personI waited for the call that never came. Never mind, I’ll get in touch myself, two messages later still no reply ho hum. I really feel I could offer something, especially on the medical side.
18 Replies
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Shame, I am sure there is somewhere that would really value your expertise to help others. I commend you. Well done you.
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Thanks Blackpearl, I hope you are making progress?
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Hi there thank you, I am doing grand! Thank you for asking.
On transplant list and tumours just shrunk, so happy bunny I am.
Have a nice evening.
Jaycee
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Jaycee,
That is great news, I am going to sleep well as sprits are lifted. Clinic tomorrow, touch wood progress will be on target.
Mark.
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Sending virtual hugs and loads of positive vibes for tomorrow.
I've been doing it for a while now and you can do as much or as little as you want. A few volunteers met yesterday for the 'Perk up your liver' coffee morning. I travelled from West Sussex and a couple came from East Sussex. Someone from Guildford would have been very welcome.
Since getting back to England from Finland, we've been to Crete. I came back from a sunny Mediterranean island as pale as I went ! Even Finland had a rare heatwave while we were there.
No sun god then, good for the skin. I used to travel to Kotka in Finland. For reasons nobody can explain, the British Navy burnt the place down in 1905. Look forward to hearing from you.
Mark
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Hi Hidden
As Jim has kindly said, you may want to contact us at The British Liver Trust regarding volunteer work.
I'm sure Jim will give you our fundraising managers details. Any problems you can also message me.
any act of love you give, even if its rejected, will come back to you. They dont know what they have lost. Its great that you got a liver transplant are feeling well enough to offer your service to others. im sure you will find a place that needs your experience. all the very best to you. love grace xoxo
I was in a very expensive rehab facility (nut house) to you and me, in the process of getting better. I used to go back and talk to the current batch of patients about life “on the outside”, attending meetings, getting a sponsor etc etc. I was told that I was being removed from the rota because I had the temerity to tell the patients that life still went on once they had been removed from the cotton wool world they were currently in and recovery started once they left and they would be judged on what they did not what they said. Now 16 years later I smile to myself because I wasn’t part of their “repeat business” plan, and I use it to help me realise that I must be grateful for every single day. Concentrate on you and you alone and life will present you with lots of opportunities to “give something back”.
I think I am familiar with the facility you are referring to, not me but someone close was in their for an extended period, long story about the funding but we are talking serious zeros. I think you are referring to the ATP and yes, lots of people came back after the 28 days, Glums and Wineglums attended. Celebs are good for marketing but most of the profits came from the NHS , who used it when local facilities were full. Glad you saw it for what it was and moved on. all back in one piece now?
Hi Mark, aside from anything else it’s damned rude not to reply. I would “swerve” them and go to liver trust like Jim said (I have no knowledge - just agreeing that it sounds a good alternative). Hope it works for you!
Miles
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Already made that decision and thanks Miles. Just could not grasp why they are looking for service users and then, as you point out, being rude. I am certainly going to follow up on Jim’s offer.
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