Karen Walker is a Community Services Pharmacy Technician working for Gloucestershire
Care Services (GCS); working in the Medicines Management Team based at Edward Jenner
Court. Her role involves supporting clinical
teams managing medicines.In March 2014 at the age of 45, she was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s
Mediastinal High Grade B Cell Lymphoma; yes quite a mouthful so from here on in
will be referred to as Lymphoma. This type of Lymphoma affected the valves in her
lungs and meant that both lungs (plural membrane) filled with fluid, the right
lung being the worst. Karen had 2 chest
drains inserted to the right side to re-inflate the lung and many aspirations
to keep the fluid at bay.
Tell us what happened from Diagnosis I spent 8 weeks in hospital, on a cocktail of medication including
chemotherapy whilst constantly on oxygen.
My body was annoyingly broken. I
had always been reasonably fit and healthy and I knew that once my treatment
had finished I was going to return the person I was. Or was I? When my strength came back I took
up Yoga, something I had previously sniffed at but Yoga practice was to be my
saviour. It made me feel better both
physically and emotionally. However, I
needed more. I wanted to start running
around so I took up badminton with my husband only to rupture my right Achilles
whilst playing!! I had a chronic repair, which took another 6 months before it became
reasonably functional. From attending
the local Lymphoma Support Group I got to hear of a circuits class at
Cheltenham Ladies College run by Heidi’s Hero’s for people and their
partners/carers who have been through or are going through cancer
treatment. It is run by a personal
trainer, and physio; our very own Clare Lait, (Macmillan Next Steps
physio). Attending these sessions really helped my confidence, particularly with
recovering from the Achilles operation.
It also gave me the thirst to want to do more. Remember when I said I wanted to go back to
being the old me, well I lied, I wanted to be a new me. Stronger, fitter and happier than before and
I knew that exercise was the key.
When did
you hear about H8H In November 2016 I got to hear about Health & Hustle
at GCS through Chantel. I started out on
the mid-week mid-day walk and it wasn’t long before I purchased a Fitbit. Kevin and Chantel are so supportive and soon
I was up to my 10k steps per day. Before
I knew it they were encouraging me to go running. I have only attended one after
work running session with Kev, but he was so helpful with hints and tips on
breathing and pacing, that he helped me to achieve my goal of completing this
years Race for Life 5k. I ran the whole
way, no stops, honest! The support of
the H8H team gave me self-belief, and I can’t thank them enough.
What’s your
next goals This year I have achieved a goal, which I didn’t for see. After watching rugby for 42yrs, yes I am a
frustrated Gloucester Rugby Fan, at the age of 48 I picked up a rugby ball and
ran with it!! I have joined Bredon Ladies Touch Rugby Team and it is the best
thing I have ever done. It is both enormous fun and totally shattering. The lovely thing is playing with my eldest
daughter. I can honestly say that I have
achieved my ambition of being stronger, fitter and happier than before.
I still do the Yoga and the Circuits but the benefits of playing a team
sport, with a great supportive bunch of people is what truly gives me my kicks.
I don’t know if I have lost weight? My
body shape has changed a bit but my life has changed the most.
I hope that my story shows that age is no barrier and that exercise and
fitness are a good way to recover from health set backs. No matter how little
you do, do something.
"Big Thanks to Karen for sharing her story"