Alaw Ward to appoint mental health nurse for the first time thanks to #TeamIrfon
Ysbyty Gwynedd’s Alaw Cancer Unit is to appoint a Mental Health Nurse to help patients and their families for the very first time, thanks to funding from #TeamIrfon.
Rydym yn aros am gyfieithiadau ar gyfer y cynnwys hwn
Being told he had Stage 3 testicular cancer at age 29 came as a terrible shock to sports mad Jac Glover, as he had felt absolutely fine at the time.
Process Engineer Jac, was super fit at the time having played football in a local team, run marathons and was a keen snowboarder, and had felt absolutely fine before his diagnosis and had not yet noticed the lump in his testicules.
Jac, from Trelogan, was diagnosed last November, following an ultrasound, a biopsy and a CT scan. He was also told he had secondary lymph node cancer in his stomach and neck.
He has had several rounds of chemotherapy and two surgeries. In February he rang the bell at the Cancer Treatment Centre at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd to mark the end of his treatment.
“It’s been a very tough time as it was so unexpected, as I had felt completely fine at time of diagnosis,” said Jac, now 30.
“It was tough being told of the diagnosis alone as my girlfriend wasn’t allowed to come in and be with me because of the Covid restrictions.”
“The treatment especially the chemo left me feeling really exhausted, but the staff at the Cancer Centre in Ysbyty Glan Clwyd and in the Alaw Ward where I received chemo have all been great.”
However Jac noticed the coffee on the Alaw Ward was decidedly better than the coffee he was given at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd and is now busily raising money to buy a top coffee machine for the Cancer Treatment Centre. He has already raised close to £5,000 for the North Wales Cancer Appeal.
He's also put his name down to run for the NWCA in next April’s London Marathon!
“I know good coffee seems such a small thing, but a good quality milky coffee or a creamy hot chocolate makes all the difference when your mouth tastes metallic from the drugs infused in you.”
Since his cancer diagnosis, Jac started posting about his illness on Instagram, partly to raise awareness of testicular cancer and partly to raise money for the coffee machine.
His posts to be found @glover3492 are always well-written and show off his keen sense of humour even in the darkest of times.
“I’m keen to talk about my illness as it’s important to raise awareness,” he said.
“Life is slowly going back to normal and I’m feeling stronger week by week and my girlfriend, Rhiannon, have just come back from a holiday to Florence and I’m hoping to go skiing next February.”
Carol Pritchard Chair of the North Wales Cancer Appeal, said: “Jac’s fundraising had been truly remarkable.
“The amount raised on his JustGiving page has leapt up each day. His daily blog on Instagram has been uplifting, his humour being evident on every posting. We are truly so grateful to him for raising this fantastic amount of money for the purchase of a new coffee machine.”
If you’d like to donate to Jac Glover’s JustGiving page please press here.
