There have been several situations over a 15-month period before, during, and following initial diagnosis and treatment for stage 2 mouth cancer when Linda has made a positive and significant difference psychologically emotionally and practically to my care and wellbeing. The reassurances she gave before treatment, the weekly phone calls over a lengthy period following my treatment to ask how I was progressing and whether there was any way she could assist, the ongoing willingness to respond to my emails and phone calls during and after treatment in sharing concerns that I have had and continue to have.
On more than one occasion, Linda has facilitated additional consultations with my consultant, when I have shared a particular worry about the rate of recovery, the fluctuations in how I was responding, and my doubts, at certain times, about the likelihood of living, often ensuring that she was present.
Linda always listens carefully and responds unconditionally with compassion, empathy, and where needed, advice and relevant information. In all of this, I am impressed by her quiet modesty and amazing efficiency and effectiveness. I have felt confident in confiding my deepest worries about my prognosis, difficult, problematic treatment and even harder, longer recovery process. For her, her work is clearly much more than 'just a job'.