Your support means Members like Susan can make the most of family time

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Your Support Means Members 2As someone who hardly ever got sick, Susan Clark says going to the doctor was something she rarely did. Then things changed.

“I’d been going to the gym on a 10 day trial and I’d been doing weights. One evening I thought I’d pulled all the muscles in my arm and I could feel a lump in my armpit. I didn’t think anything of it, I just thought it was from the gym,” says Susan, who was 38 at
the time.

“I was watching the kids put on their shoes for school and made the appointment. I don’t know why I did because I’ve always been so well.”

Her doctor sent her for a mammogram that afternoon and the next day she had a biopsy. Within a couple of weeks, she received the devastating news that she had secondary breast cancer.

“I didn’t really know what to think. I didn’t know anything about secondary breast cancer. What about my children – Thomas was 5 and Isabella was 8.”

As Susan learnt more about the disease, Sweet Louise has been able to provide a support system and also exposed her to complementary therapies offered by Service Providers.

“Sweet Louise opened my eyes to a lot of different, complementary treatments. Without the vouchers, I wouldn’t have had reflexology. I wouldn’t have even known about it.”

When combined with conventional treatment, therapies like reflexology can improve and enhance well-being and quality of life.

Through your support, we are able to offer each Member $500 of Service Provider vouchers each year. In the beginning, Susan used her vouchers for reflexology. these days she uses her Vouchers for beauty therapies as a way to have some time for herself.

“There are so many choices and it’s just a reminder to have time out,” she says.

Since her diagnosis, not only does Susan take more time for herself but she’s also more aware of spending as much time with her family as possible.

“Secondary breast cancer changes the way you think. You’re more aware of what’s important instead of rushing around. You don’t worry about the things you used to.”

Now, Susan and her family take time to slow down and enjoy life.

“Family outings give us time away from the day-to-day, like sport commitments and homework.

“I now have awareness of slowing down and spending time together. Since my diagnosis, we always spend time together around Christmas. Even though the kids are getting older, they still make time.”

For many Sweet Louise Members like Susan, creating memories with their families is one of the things you make possible. We are able to help them plan special family days, provide tickets to events and organise family movie nights. Our thanks to you for making this possible.

 

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