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Hello,
My
name is Elaine Brown, founder of MACS. I was born in Nottingham
in1959
Macs
was founded July 2007 after my diagnosis in March 2007 of Non
Hodgkins Lymphoma t-cell.
I was diagnosed and treated in Spain.
I
have “The Degree of Life”, that landed me here in Spain
financially independent and “living the dream”. Then, cancer
enrolled me on the refresher course March 2007, using my body as
the “workshop”…I say refresher course, because already I
had the hands on experience………
Cancer
first entered my life when I was 3 years old. My biological
father died of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma when he was 29. I was
adopted by a wonderful man - he died of lung cancer 10 years
ago. He blessed my life in his healthy years, but also during
the more difficult times of his cancer - He chose to spend the
last six months living with my husband and me. We were his only
carers. He did not want treatment at hospital, nor to die there,
he only wanted us – and that was an honour. The evening he
passed was the most traumatic experience I have ever
encountered, much more than my own feelings about my diagnosis
or treatment. We may as well have been in a different world, it
was the UK, but we
felt abandoned. That’s another story.
I
tick all the boxes for caring for a loved one with cancer,
experience of cancer and its treatment, but more importantly,
experience of being part of the cancer system here in
Spain.
Many
do not have family here in Spain to rely on when illness
strikes. I created this group to bridge the gaps of
communication and understanding and more importantly, offer an
ear and support in Spanish and English to ensure this journey is
made as easy as possible for everyone. So, with the right people supporting us, we cannot lose!
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