Written by a Service User
I was born in hospital to two happy parents and two older sisters.
I enjoyed school very much and made a lot of friends, some of whom I am still friends with today. At school I enjoyed playing the guitar and music in general such as singing, and I was in the Church choir.
I studied English and Psychology at University which I enjoyed. On leaving I took on a graduate scheme and later progressed to Deputy Manager of a well-known international retail group. I enjoyed going out a lot with friends and socialising – I was really the life and soul of the party (those were the days)!
In the late 1990s I started to suffer a lot from headaches and my eyesight deteriorated – this was when I was working for the Careers Service and I felt my whole life begin to suffer. I went to the Opticians who referred me to my doctor. Within a week I was in hospital having surgery for a Craniopharyngioma. I was told I was lucky to be alive – but I didn’t think so at the time.
Prior to coming to Kemsley I was in two different hospitals. When I came to Kemsley I was so ill that I didn’t know where I was. Life hasn’t been easy here and the last eight years have felt like a lot longer. However, things improved a great deal and I have made a great deal of good, close friends and I have a lot of good memories to take with me. I have gained a great deal from being at Kemsley and feel very grateful for the help and support I’ve had. It’s been a long journey but worth it. I feel I have finally got there.
I am now moving on to a new unit in a different part of the country and though I am pleased to be moving on I’m also frightened to death, but I feel it’s definitely time. I will miss Kemsley more than I realise as I have very strong ties here and it has been a big part of my life.