Two OIC employees facing similar cancer journeys share their thanks for “The Hospital Adventures”

Two Orkney families have shared how their cancer journeys have been made that little bit easier thanks to a new initiative set up at the Balfour - The Hospital Adventures.

Georgia Bendall, an Early Years’ Practitioner at the Council’s Glaitness Nursery, and Archie Millar, who was medically retired from the Council’s waste team this summer, both agree that the fear and anxiety triggered by hospital visits for their young children has been taken away by staff efforts through the “adventures” that are played out with some extra special furry helpers.

Georgia and Archie are receiving palliative care packages to allow them to make some special memories with their families and they both feel that The Hospital Adventures have benefited their youngest children immeasurably.

Georgia, 46, who was given a stage four colorectal cancer diagnosis and soon after they discovered unrelated cancer in her breast and lymph nodes, has been on a mission to raise awareness of her particular type of cancer and now she wants everyone to know of the “fantastic” offering at the Balfour.

The Hospital Adventures have many furry little helpers – in the name of Groatie, the Stella triplets (inspired by Georgia and the girls), Ed the Ted, Fred and Freya. They can be a bit accident prone and sometimes need a visit to the hospital for all kinds of different things such as x-rays, CT scans, for broken bones, or they may need medicine to make them better. On their visits, the teddies meet the staff who help make them better – helped along the way by children.

Georgia said: “Not only have the wonderful staff behind The Hospital Adventures taken the fear out of the hospital visits for my children, now they actually look forward to going there – in fact, they will ask when they can visit again!”

She continued: “A cancer diagnosis throws your world into chaos and it is terrifying for everyone involved. Imagine trying to cope with this as a child when any kind of change can be daunting. Children are naturally scared as mummy or daddy is poorly and needs to go to hospital – this can seem like a very scary environment with strangers and funny looking equipment, new sounds and all manner of gadgets. The medicine they give can often seem like the enemy as it makes mummy sick – hospitals, doctors and nurses are meant to make mummy better – so it can be very confusing for a child.

“This is where the work of Dr Tariro Gandiya and The Hospital Adventures is so invaluable, and I cannot stress how much this has helped my girls. They were very anxious about the hospital visits, which only added to my own worry on top of everything else. Tariro and others, including Linzi Mowatt, have turned this around by making it a fun experience. You cannot underestimate the positive effect this has on children. The Hospital Adventures are allowing us to make really special memories at a time when I am not always feeling able to myself.

“The girls are made to feel so special, and this is something they will never forget. Many people have learned to live with a new normal as a result of Covid; this is our new normal learning to live with cancer. I want my children to be able to look back on this and be able to take the positives from it.”

Georgia and her two youngest girls – Jess and Anna – and their dad, Keith enjoyed a very special “princess tea party” at the end of September thanks to The Hospital Adventures when they were also joined by Scotland’s National Clinical Director Jason Leitch and Caroline Lamb and NHS Orkney’s interim Chief Executive Michael Dickson.

“They were able to see first-hand themselves the fantastic work of the staff and just the difference it has made to us as a family,” Georgia said. “This on top of all the support from Keith, who has been fantastic, his partner Senga, other family members, some very special friends and the wider community really has helped to lift our spirits and keep us going.”

Professor Jason Leitch commented: “The princess tea party I enjoyed recently at the Balfour Hospital, with Caroline Lamb, and children who have a parent being treated for cancer, was one of the highlights of my visit to Orkney. This initiative, by Dr Tariro Gandiya, to make the hospital a less scary place, acknowledges a child’s anxiety when they have a mum or dad having chemotherapy or surgery. Caroline and I spent a heart-warming time talking to the children, their parents and Dr Gandiya and came away uplifted and inspired.

“Even in these difficult times, we can all reach out to those who are feeling vulnerable and, through small acts of kindness, make them feel better. Well done to the NHS Orkney team for making this extra effort and taking some of the fear out of what is a very difficult time for a family.”

Dr Gandiya, who is behind The Hospital Adventures, explained: “Whenever someone has to come into a hospital it can be a highly emotive time. It’s often too hard to process what is happening and worst still having to live it yourself. Whether it's a fleeting visit or the start of many appointments for a long time, hospitals have been associated with a dark cloud. Hospitals don't have to be that way. May each visit be an adventure with wins and losses. In each adventure we hope you may meet people with nuggets of wisdom, jokes or a simple smile to help you carry on. We hope to demystify hospitals and offer mini virtual adventures and education for children.”

Archie was delivered a devastating diagnosis at the age of just 43 earlier this year after investigations revealed he had cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer), which has spread to his liver and bones.

Alongside his wife, Lesley-Anne, they want to encourage others not to ignore any changes to your body, even if the symptoms appear on the surface not to be serious.

They said: “Symptoms of bile duct cancer include a loss of appetite, pain in the stomach, feeling sick after eating, jaundice, feeling tired and a lack of energy, feeling generally unwell – unfortunately as so many of these are common for all manner of reasons, people can pass it off as nothing serious and, often, the reality is only revealed once it is at an advanced stage. It’s easy to ignore the aches and pains, especially for men who maybe have a physical job. But, please, don’t – it could mean the difference between life and death.”

Archie has undergone nine cycles of two different chemotherapies and the family face an anxious wait for scan results later this month.

Despite this incredibly difficult journey, the couple also want to express their thanks to the health professionals at NHS Orkney.

Lesley-Anne said: “Everyone has been amazing, from the A & E doctor for agreeing to do the first scan to the Macmillan nurses, who have been outstanding with his care and with supporting the kids. Dr Gandiya has been amazing from the start too as has Dr Cook at Skerryvore - we have been very lucky with his care.”

On top of the traditional medical care, the family have also praised The Hospital Adventures, which has had a very positive effect on their youngest two, Sadie and Ruaridh.
In particular, they enjoyed a “scavenger hunt” with furry friends, Fred and Freya, which took them all over the hospital, visiting and experiencing various departments in a child-friendly manner.

Lesley-Anne continued: “The staff at each stop of the hunt were brilliant, friendly and spoke to the kids about what happens in their department and helped them work on their poor bears Fred and Freya who had broken their legs. The receptionist at A & E, Nurse Merriman in A & E, Sarah at X-ray and of course the amazing Macmillan nurses Anne and Roddy who along with Dr Gandiya who organised the whole thing.

“Our youngest daughter, in particular, has struggled with dad being at hospital for chemotherapy, scared it was hurting him so for the kids to be able to come in have a look around in a fun way while searching for equipment and staff in the hospital really helped them to see what a nice place the hospital is and how utterly brilliant the staff are. The staff also let them know that they are there not only to look after dad but to support the kids to and let them know if they have any questions, they can ask them at any time. It was another precious memory made with their dad who also took part in the hunt. There were so many smiles all around.

“Ruaridh and Sadie loved it and are thrilled with their new friends, Fred and Freya, who made a full recovery at home. Sadie now takes Freya everywhere – she’s been to London, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness and Westray, basically everywhere we have been making precious memories as a family. The Hospital Adventures also gave myself and our eldest two daughters, Kaitlin and Charys journals and a card – it was very thoughtful of them. As a family, we cannot thank them enough.”

In addition to this, the hospital have received a mini Tesla, donated by Tesla Owners UK for use by its youngest patients and those accompanying a parent receiving treatment – helping to ease their fears or apprehension at what can be a very anxious time.

The Club have donated these cars to a number of hospitals across the UK.

The Hospital Adventures have a local Facebook page where you can find out more.