The role of a Doctor is to cure or treat someone who is facing illness. But as I experienced growing up, the role of a doctor in most circumstances forgets one important thing... You can live well despite, having a disability of lifelong health concern, if given the right support to do so.
During my time in and out of Hospital, there have been moments when it felt like the Doctors, whose role it is to help have been so focused on 'curing' they forget the person in front of them, who have put their lives in the hands of their consultant. Laying in the ward as you see the Team of Doctors and healthcare professionals move from patient to patient. The focus can appear distant from the person laying in the hospital bed. As a kid, you have no idea, or at least I didn't know what was going on, when they stand at the end of your hospital bed discussing your care. Even to this day, I look to my mum when my consultants say something which confuses or panics me. Because, in the hospital environment, the clinical appearance of everything can make you feel lost and the beauty of the world around you can seem hidden. As humans, we get locked in the position that when someone is disabled we should be sorry for them, rather than empower them. We forget that life is complex, we forget that each of our lives is so interlinked that we can have a huge influence on others lives. And, so empowerment and the support we offer others with and without a disability or fighting chronic illness should be tailored and focused. It should be focused on showing them that their life is so amazing they can achieve ANYTHING. When I was younger my mum would in the moments when I felt like I couldn't do something would encourage me and gently remind me that I could. And when those in the medical profession, when those who made comment in passing or those in social care profession said I would not get to be 'successful', because of the preconceived ideas of disability. My mum would empower me and be the backing I needed to see that although it was important to get the right treatment, I could still live well with my condition and achieve anything. Last week I gave a talk at Southampton Solent University to some of the Social work students, about working with young people and shared my personal experiences. The biggest thing that stood out for me as I was sat on the train on my way home was, that working with young people does not have to be complex. It just involves being open, honest and understanding. By that I mean we so often listen to others to reply, to give a quick response of what we think that person needs. We don't listen to understand them as a person. That is key to any supporting anyone.
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AuthorBrain tumour survivor. Ambassador, campaigner and co-founder of #IFightFor Archives
January 2019
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