There are no words to describe how much of an asset Shona is to the TYA team. I truly couldn’t have gotten through my cancer treatment without her and would have probably given up. She has become like a mum to me. She goes above and beyond in every aspect of her job, even phoning to check I’m ok. You really know she cares and she is made for this role.

When I wanted to raise awareness of youth cancer she came with me to my old school to support me in giving a presentation. She has also helped me in writing a book (guide) for young adults going through cancer treatment. Some people say that a positive mindset can help in one's recovery and a negative one can have the opposite effect. Well, if this is the case, it wasn't just the chemo that cured me but Shona also. She kept me laughing on my darkest days.

This one particular time I remember I had dragged my steroid-ridden bum into her office unable to speak due to about 20 mouth ulcers and I just cried to her because I wanted to eat pizza so bad and we both ended up laughing so much. She said, "Well, you can't get much lower than this." It's turning hard moments like this into funny ones that make the difference. I never wanted to be babied or treated like a patient, she treated me like a human being and I don't know if I could have gotten through the hellish experience without her. She made it not only bearable but genuinely humorous at times.