Finding strength to handle diagnosis
DEARLY LOVED: Kate Minto, whose son Fletcher died when he was just 80 days old, is helping to organise A Walk to Remember next month in honour of babies who have died. alone. It’s really hard to talk to people about it – to say ‘I lost my son’.”
Mrs Minto now volunteers for the not-for-profit organisation and is helping to co-ordinate this year’s Walk Remember on October 18.
The event is expected to draw more than 60 local families.
“It (Sands) has allowed me to
to put my grief to use and to help other people. Behind closed doors you still struggle ... It reminds you, you are not alone.”
A Walk to Remember will include a memorial service, butterfly release, symbolic c walk and a morning tea at the Funship Parklands on Cairns Esplanade from 8.30am. WHEN Nina Behn was diagnosed with cancer in January, she was forced to put her life on hold.
The 34-year-old had planned to move down south and start a new job when she received what she describes as the biggest shock of her life.
“It ruined all of my plans and I had to stop working because I lost so much weight, was in so much pain and had no energy,” she said.
“My family are all in Germany and most of my friends were down south shortly after I’d finished my treatment. I felt completely alone. It was the scariest time in my life.”
Ms Behn (pictured below) underwent about three months of intensive radiation and chemotherapy, which left her physically and emotionally fragile.
“I started to get panic attacks, something I had never experienced before. I didn’t know what was happening to me,” she said.
Ms Behn reached out to Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service psychologist Kerry Francis, who works in the Cancer Care Centre.
“I told her what was happening to me, how I was feeling and she was there to listen and give advice,” Ms Behn said.
“Then she told me about the new Relaxation and Wellbeing Group for cancer patients she had established.”
Dr Francis said she had established the group after identifying a gap in services.
“There is increasing evidence for the benefits of mindbody therapies like relaxation, visualisation, meditation, yoga and art/music therapies as an effective part of integrated cancer care,” she said.
“I wanted to give our patients an opportunity to learn practical stress management skills in an informal, group setting. Cancer has its own, unique set of stresses and for the person experiencing it, it can be absolutely terrifying.”
“It can take away your sense of control and it brings you face to face with your own mortality. mortality.”