Due to the nature of her work she felt it would be best to remain anonymous at this time in her career, but as I found her journey so inspiring I persisted in persuading her to give a snapshot of her journey, please read below for her account on her journey.

“I am a 29 year-old adult trainee nurse with sickle cell anaemia and I am in my final year of training, aspiring one day to eventually become a sickle cell clinical nurse specialist or sickle cell community nurse. I chose to become a nurse because I had a keen desire to help other young people and adults who experience illness and ill health and who are going through the hardest periods of their life. Being ill, especially on an ongoing basis, is the toughest period of anyone’s life, it does not matter who you are, or what you do for a living, you could be an ordinary person living your life, you could be one of the most famous people in the world, you could be a ground-breaking scientist, or you could be the prime minister of the United Kingdom, illness and ill health can affect anyone at any time.

I can strongly relate to people who experience ill health, and because I have a patient perspective, I can understand what the person experiencing ill health may be feeling or going through.

I can do this in terms of thoughts, feelings and emotions, including thoughts regarding the present situation, and thoughts regarding their future. I also strongly relate to the relatives of the loved ones, who are experiencing ill health. I include everyone in the picture, in regards to a person experiencing ill health. For example, I like to prompt the patient’s relatives and ask them if they have questions regarding their loved one’s care and treatment plan. I also like to give advice and encourage them in any way I can.

Choosing to become a nurse is one of the best decisions I have made in my entire life. Prior to becoming a nurse, I experienced ill health and multiple complications on an ongoing basis; I saw little hope and felt like I had a bleak future. I had little confidence within myself and with other people. Choosing this career path has really helped me, in terms of appreciating what I have, and looking back on how far I have come. I have met some of the kindest, loveliest and wonderful patients and families, the good in humanity, and despite what they are going through, they understand that I am a student nurse, and I am looking after them, and doing my absolute best by them. I am looking forward to becoming a nurse, becoming a happier and free spirited person, and working in the field of Haematology, and making a real difference to people’s lives.”

For further information contact linda.chic@sicklecellsociety.org.