I have first-hand experience with Jo both as a relative of a patient and as a colleague. Over the past 2 months, the support she has given me, my family, and the team has been absolutely incredible. First, I would like to talk about my mum, who was 68 when she died. The 2 months prior to this, she had been in and out of hospital with breathing problems, and we weren't really getting any answers regarding what was causing it. I ended up bringing my mum to hospital in Oxford, where she was diagnosed with a mass in her lung, and she spent the last 2 weeks of her life in hospital, with only 1 visitor allowed per day, for 1 hour at a time. Jo was able to go and spend time with my mum, talking to her about anything, supporting her, and making sure she was ok when family wasn't allowed to be in the hospital. This was such a great comfort knowing that someone else was able to check on mum during that time.

Jo also was such a huge support to me personally during this time, when we got the news about different diagnoses, problems, and prognoses of mum's condition. Not only was she able to sort out any work duties that I maybe had to leave, but she was also there to talk to me on a personal level whenever I needed it, and she did all of this while continuing to do her usual job, which is also absolutely amazing to see her do and learn from her.

Since mum has died, I have had the pleasure of spending a bit more time with Jo, and have realised that she also provides this level of care and support to all members of our team when they are having personal problems, when family members are ill, or whenever anyone just needs someone. I don't think we could ask for a better person to run the team both from a clinical perspective, with all her knowledge and ability to teach, and from a personal point of view. The support she offers the rest of the team often at a sacrifice of her own time is much much more than you should expect from someone, and for that, I would like to say a huge "Thank you". She is truly extraordinary.