CAREGIVERS SUPPORT GROUP
Hi! My name is Kevin, and I’m a volunteer at Myelopathy.org. I have a partner that suffers with Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy (DCM). Our journey started five years ago, when my wife was told she needed urgent surgery to stop her from being paralysed. Everything happened so fast and decisions had to be made quickly. At the time we could hardly find any information about this condition. And what we could find was mostly geared to the DCM sufferer.
Watching my partner go through difficult days was heart-breaking. I felt helpless. I had no-one around me that knew about the condition or that understood how this was affecting me. Being diagnosed with DCM is life-changing, not only for the sufferer, but also for those close to them.
When Myelopathy.org approached me to help set up this new support group for caregivers, I was delighted. The support group is a place for carers, friends, and family. The group offers guidance, advice and emotional support. It is also a place where you can be heard. I have a background in Counselling so I understand the importance of talking and listening. Talking to others can help reduce feelings of anxiety. And there is always someone willing to listen. It is a safe space to share thoughts and ask questions that some might find hard, or difficult, to share otherwise. We also share any research that has been done into DCM. We feel it is important that everyone should have a support group to turn to.
So if you have a DCM sufferer in your life, our Caregivers Support Group can play an important role by being a place where you can come, ask questions, discuss important topics, and get an idea of what to expect. But most importantly, not to be alone in this journey. By becoming a member of Myelopathy.org Caregivers Support Group on Facebook you will be joining a community that can help you understand the condition a lot more and be there to offer support and understanding. We can all learn from the experiences of others in the same position.
And please help us to spread awareness by telling other caregivers, friends, and family about our support group and this charity. We have produced a postcard (one-sided or double-sided) for all healthcare professionals who treat DCM to direct their patients to our support groups. Please ask your doctors to hand out our postcard in their clinic. By making their patients aware of Myelopathy.org, we can give them the helping hand they need.
Watching my partner go through difficult days was heart-breaking. I felt helpless. I had no-one around me that knew about the condition or that understood how this was affecting me. Being diagnosed with DCM is life-changing, not only for the sufferer, but also for those close to them.
When Myelopathy.org approached me to help set up this new support group for caregivers, I was delighted. The support group is a place for carers, friends, and family. The group offers guidance, advice and emotional support. It is also a place where you can be heard. I have a background in Counselling so I understand the importance of talking and listening. Talking to others can help reduce feelings of anxiety. And there is always someone willing to listen. It is a safe space to share thoughts and ask questions that some might find hard, or difficult, to share otherwise. We also share any research that has been done into DCM. We feel it is important that everyone should have a support group to turn to.
So if you have a DCM sufferer in your life, our Caregivers Support Group can play an important role by being a place where you can come, ask questions, discuss important topics, and get an idea of what to expect. But most importantly, not to be alone in this journey. By becoming a member of Myelopathy.org Caregivers Support Group on Facebook you will be joining a community that can help you understand the condition a lot more and be there to offer support and understanding. We can all learn from the experiences of others in the same position.
And please help us to spread awareness by telling other caregivers, friends, and family about our support group and this charity. We have produced a postcard (one-sided or double-sided) for all healthcare professionals who treat DCM to direct their patients to our support groups. Please ask your doctors to hand out our postcard in their clinic. By making their patients aware of Myelopathy.org, we can give them the helping hand they need.