Submitted by Graham
\nMacmillan Cancer Support Worker<\/p>\n
Prior to the pandemic, colleagues and management were very understanding of my duty to help my grandmother.<\/p>\n
I escorted her back up to Scotland for the last time in early January 2020. As I left her house to get in a taxi to Glasgow Airport, I glanced through her living room window and waved goodbye as she smiled at me from her armchair.<\/p>\n
I didn’t know that was to be the last time I saw her in person, but it did feel a little ominous as she hadn’t been in good health.<\/p>\n
I was planning on traveling back to the airport by train, but she gave me money for the taxi that would take me a few hours later than originally planned; in hindsight I think she knew how precious our time together was.<\/p>\n
The pandemic that arrived on our shores around about that time has as we all know meant living with a lot of restrictions.<\/p>\n
I was not able to visit my grandmother when she was hospitalised after a fall later in 2020. She spent what felt like a long time in two different hospitals, but told me over the phone how much she was enjoying the care and company of professional and kind-hearted NHS colleagues during her lengthy stays up there.<\/p>\n
They helped Gran conduct video calls with me, which I am so grateful for, as these video calls were the last times that I was able to see her.<\/p>\n
Sadly, in late 2020, I was informed that she was passing away.<\/p>\n
People who know me understand that I suffer from Bipolar Disorder, which has historically meant taking longer periods of time off work sick in comparison to other colleagues.<\/p>\n
This may sound strange, but thanks to the brilliant kindness and support from my line manager, and other colleagues, I took no time off work sick before, during and after my grandmother’s passing away.<\/p>\n
This was my first time feeling able and willing to come to work whilst experiencing a mild episode.<\/p>\n
At one point, a colleague mentioned that she thought I would break out into song whilst I was conducting one of our morning huddles – a sign of an unusual emotional state considering that I had just heard of the loss of my dearly beloved grandmother.<\/p>\n
I said to this very understanding and supportive colleague that deep down I am feeling very sad. I am also grateful for another colleague, who kept regular tabs on my wellbeing; on one occasion we briefly discussed in the corridor how different people process grief and loss in different ways.<\/p>\n
I was given leave to make the journey up to Scotland with my family for my grandmother’s funeral, which was a very dignified occasion attended by a very small number of close family members, at a time when the whole of the UK was under very tight lockdown restrictions.<\/p>\n
Upon my return, I came straight back to work, and over the course of the next few weeks, returned to an emotional and mental state that family, friends, and colleagues are more familiar with.<\/p>\n
Jokingly, when I said to my manager that I “feel normal again,” she said “you’re not normal!… normal is boring!”<\/p>\n
We reflected how, in my case, continuing to come in to work and keeping myself occupied with appropriate tasks and workplace activities was definitely better than staying at home.<\/p>\n
I cannot thank my colleagues enough for the kindnesses and considerations they afforded me during my time at work over a very difficult time.<\/p>\n
I am of course not the only person who suffers with Bipolar Disorder; people like me up and down the country often experience difficulties associated with finding and holding down employment, but the way I was treated by friends and colleagues was exemplary, and a testament to our Outstanding organisation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Prior to the pandemic, colleagues and management here in Cancer Services at Worthing Hospital were very understanding of my duty to help my grandmother……<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":89,"featured_media":5001,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_expiration-date-status":"","_expiration-date":0,"_expiration-date-type":"","_expiration-date-categories":[],"_expiration-date-options":[]},"categories":[152,153,144],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n