Caylie, a former client of KEMP’s Family Support & Bereavement Services Team, wanted to share her story so others could understand what a positive impact it can have when you ask for support.
Reaching our for Help with Bereavement
We know taking the first step to find help with grief is challenging. Talking about such a personal situation is intimidating and trusting someone with those thoughts can be daunting. But reaching out for help following a bereavement can give you a new perspective on your grief and help you to understand your feelings. Caylie, a former client of KEMP’s Family Support & Bereavement Services Team, wanted to share her story so others could understand what a positive impact it can have when you ask for support.
“My Dad was diagnosed with Leukaemia in March 2019. It was a rare form, and he was given just a 30% chance of survival. Over the next few months, he undertook chemotherapy and had a stem cell transplant” Though Paul reached the important ‘100 days’ following the Stem Cell procedure, he developed an autoimmune disease which meant blood cells began to attack his body. “My Dad was put forward for a clinical trial, however the day he was due to start, his health went downhill rapidly, and he didn’t regain consciousness” Paul sadly died in July 2020.
Taking the Step to Make a Referral
Caylie found it difficult to understand her feelings and was recommended to contact KEMP Hospice Family Support & Bereavement Services Team. “It was actually my Sister who suggested I reach out to KEMP as she has a friend who had spoken about them before. Initially I wasn’t too sure, but it turned out to be such a good decision as I can’t explain how good this has been for me.”
During the Covid pandemic, the teams at KEMP Hospice adapted to ensure support services could continue. Caylie made a referral in August 2020 and began Counselling sessions over the phone in November. She says “I found it was good that the sessions didn’t begin right away. It gave me chance to think about my grief before I spoke to someone. I had 10 sessions in total, all of which were over the phone, so I’ve never actually met my Counsellor Lyn in person”.
Sharing her Experience to Help Others
Despite not meeting face-to-face, Caylie still felt the benefits of her Counselling sessions. “It was nice to speak to someone who was completely separate from the situation and Lyn has really helped me to find a new outlook. She helped me to understand my grief and I cannot thank her and KEMP enough for the support I received”. Caylie went on to say, “I wanted to share my story so that if someone out there needs help but is nervous to make a referral, they should know that KEMP is here for them and I couldn’t recommend them highly enough”.