News

Day centre helped Ian to cope

03 June 2009

St Helena has helped Ian MacInnes rebuild his life after he learned he had inoperable cancer and a predicted lifespan of only a few months. 

The 79-year-old twice endured open heart surgery, only to discover that he had terminal bowel cancer.

Ian, of Chase Lane, Dovercourt, said: “The doctor threw the bombshell- they could not remove the cancer because I was too far gone. He was open and told me straight. He said you have a few months to live. That was a shock.”

As Ian and wife, Beryl, struggled to come to terms with his illness, they were invited to the hospice’s Clacton day centre, where the pair found help in dealing with day-to-day practicalities and plenty of emotional support on offer.

“When it started with me, I had a temper,” Ian admitted. “St Helena has helped me deal with that. When you are in this situation you find there are a lot of very good people about. The staff here are invaluable. I love them all to bits, they cannot do enough for you.
“It’s lovely. You get a day out. I spend so much time sitting in a chair at home, but you come and meet other people. It’s something I really look forward to – you come in and have a chat. Last week we didn’t come because it was a bank holiday and I didn’t half miss it.”

Meanwhile, his wife has been invited to join a carers’ group so she could get advice and the chance to share her experiences with other people in the same boat. 

Sonia Elks, Clacton Gazette, Wednesday June 3rd 2009