AN INTERVIEW WITH IRMA

AN INTERVIEW WITH IRMA

Irma Shelton is someone whom many in the thalassaemia and sickle cell anaemia community would know from her time working as a patient service assistant (PSA) at the Medical Therapy Unit, Monash Health Clayton, until her brain cancer diagnosis. Because

Irma is so special and in the hearts of so many in our community, Sam got in touch with Irma over the phone to see how she was going and to reflect on her time at the MTU.

Sam: Hi Irma, you have lots of friends and colleagues that care for you and want to offer support as you go through everything you are facing with cancer. They all want to know how you are going. So, how have you been?

Irma: I’m great. I am currently having an experimental treatment and it’s working fine. The tumour is stable and I’m doing well. Thank you to everyone for their support. I really miss everyone.

Sam: That’s great to hear that you are doing well! Tell me about your time at the MTU, what was your favourite part of working there?

Irma: Oh everything! I loved it all. I worked at Monash for many years. Many of the patients I looked after would spend long days at the hospital and it was my job to make sure they were comfortable. I would get them lunch or a coffee and made sure the unit was clean. I loved interacting with everyone.

Sam: Were there any favourite memories?

Irma: Everything about it! There’s no one thing that was my favourite. The people were amazing, the staff were amazing.

Sam: Do you miss anything from your time there?

Irma: I really miss the interaction and the patients.

Sam: How are you going during the lockdown?

Irma: Hate it! [Laughs] I don’t mind not being outside, but not being able to have visitors is hard. I can still talk with friends over the phone, but it’s not the same.

Sam: Is there anything you are excited about?

Irma: The end of the lockdown!

Sam: You have shown such positivity during your challenge with brain cancer. In the article you said how you changed your mindset from “a battle with cancer” to accepting it and living with it, not allowing fear to drive the way you live. What is some advice you would give to someone who is going through challenges of their own, whatever it is?

Irma: Yes, I learnt to accept what I can’t change and try to be more positive. Counselling really helped me. One advice that I could give is to live one day at a time. Live for today and not tomorrow because tomorrow is not guaranteed.

Sam: That’s great advice, especially during this time of uncertainty. Thank you for chatting with us today. Do you have a final message to all your friends and supporters?

Irma: Thank you for all your support. I miss the unit and I miss you all!