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Spectre! Sarah Early© I gave my life Sarah Early
Cancer is a ghost that creeps in the night. I gave my life to the NHS.
It is often silent, and painless. But what did it give to me?
Just when we’re at our most relaxed, I gave it my youth and my dreams.
It makes us its home. I gave it my faith in the future.
Hidden in corners, it grows. I gave it my health.
I gave it my all.
It doesn’t want us to know it is here.
Because it prefers a quiet life. Why did I stay there so long?
While we’re distracted by our routines Was it the money? No.
It is safe. Was it the conditions? No-o.
It can find a quiet place. Was it the working hours?
Sorry, just joking!
Where it can feed, and grow,
Till it has enough room to stretch out. So… could it be the patients?
But it is so greedy, Well, they could be irritating.
It can never be satisfied. Some were downright rude.
And they could be stubborn.
And when it expands too far,
Then its host — But they could also be inspiring.
One of us —
It was fascinating.
Will sicken, and die. All those lives laid out before me.
All those different worlds to explore.
Leaving silly old cancer homeless! All these ways I could really make a difference.
So in the NHS I felt rich.
Rich in purpose.
Rich in kindness.
Rich in all that makes life worth living.
And that is why I stayed.
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