The BIG Project
Following our experience throughout Jerome’s illness, we came face-to-face with a reality whereby our son, at the time a 16 year old student, had to attend for treatment in an adults ward – initially within Boffa Hospital. Just imagine, the reality that we were facing was devastating in itself, let alone having to accept a situation where your son (a 16 year old) had to be treated like one aged 60, 70 and even more…… it was just thanks to our perseverance and the cooperation of Jerome’s Consultants that he was, after the first six months of treatment, transferred to Rainbow Ward.
Unfortunately, the aggressive cancer that hit Jerome returned back as soon as Jerome turned 19, we were told that he has to now be transferred to an adults Ward. Devastating news indeed as it was very hard for Jerome to come to terms with the idea…..
We must say that the treatment our son got from the adults ward was very good. The staff there was also very friendly and cooperative, but the reality remains that the place itself does not cater at all for Young Adults and possibly their siblings!
On various occasions Jerome told us: “Please do something about this as it does not make sense that I do not have anything to do, where to play with my borther Jethro, etc…..”. And this is what we have decided to embark on, a project which will see the Oncology Ward catering for YOUNG ADULTS.
We have met the Health Minister, the Hon. Chris Fearne on 17th January 2019, so as to start off the discussions on the matter and have to admit that he was very receptive to the idea of creating a section within the Oncology Centre to cater for YOUNG ADULTS. We promised the Minister that as a Foundation, we will raise funds so as to furnish this section with the appropriate set up.
We are fully committed to this cause…..
Way back in February 2018, we were in contact with Dr Julia Chisholm, Consultant in Paediatric and TYA oncology, within the Royal Marsden Hospital in the UK and after we told her of our objective, she told us that: “In the UK patient voice is very important and I am sure that this would be the case in Malta”.
Fingers crossed!
