Patient and Family Stories

Lee Casey from Whitley Bay, and her twin daughters Neve and Emily, aged two, all have primary familial lymphoedema, which is a genetic form of the condition.  Here Lee explains: "I was born with lymphoedema, as was my twin sister Melanie. When I was growing up it didn’t really...

Elaine Quinn from Heaton has been bringing her son, Daniel, for specialist short breaks at St Oswald’s Children's Service for five years. Daniel greatly benefits from his visits, but so too does Elaine - as St Oswald’s is committed to providing a service for carers as well....

Jeff Rowland is a locally based artist from Wallsend. Now living in Monkseaton, Jeff’s work is critically acclaimed and sells all over the world. In May 2006, Jeff’s Dad was an inpatient at St Oswald’s. After a short stay, he sadly died from cancer. Here, Jeff tells his...

Julie Slater, aged 48, from Chapel House, has been coming to our Day Services for lymphoedema treatment for the last 18 months. The lymphoedema is a result of radiotherapy which caused Julie’s arm to swell up to double its normal size. Julie explains: “I was diagnosed with...

Rebecca Parslow, 41 from Ponteland, has been benefiting from St Oswald’s day services since 2004.  Here Rebecca tells us her story and why St Oswald’s means so much to her. Rebecca said: “At the start of 1999 my life was like any other normal 30-year-old...

One of our Day Hospice patients, Rob Fawcett, aged 52, from Newcastle fulfilled a life long dream recently and took to the skies in a glider plane, thanks to our team of Occupational Therapists (OT’s) and Northumbria Gliding Club.  Rob was diagnosed with Motor...

Margaret Whitehead from Pelaw, Gateshead takes part in our Light up a Life campaign in memory of her husband, Chris, who died at St Oswald’s in 2007. Margaret explains here why she continues to support St Oswald’s. Margaret said: “The first time Chris came...