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My name is Lloyd James, in 2009 I was diagnosed with lung cancer.
When I visited the hospital and I was actually diagnosed, I was by myself.
I remember being on the train going home, and fighting back tears.
It’s probably the worst feeling in the world. It knocked my confidence as well.
I was quite withdrawn and introverted at the time.
I wouldn’t say much. The operation was suggested pretty soon.
2 weeks later if I remember right. For me it was a relatively short time to make
a huge decision. I was really worried about paying my mortgage
and just general bills because if I don’t go out to work there’s no one else who’s
going to pay my bills. I was lost. Completely lost
"Hi, how are you?" Emma Cross is my Macmillan Benefits Adviser.
I remember when you came in quite clearly. Your big concern was on the finances
and whether to go ahead with the operation as quickly as possible because of the financial
concerns. Someone tells 'you you have cancer'
really you shouldn’t be debating whether or not you should have the surgery or not.
You should just go ahead. Sitting down and speaking to Emma, she gave
me a direction. I came in to you one day and you were like
‘how much are you getting Lloyd?’ and I told her and she was like, 'that's not
right. Alright fill that form out.' So I filled this very small form out.
She's off, working her magic. Before I knew it. I got an increase in benefits.
If Emma hadn’t been there, wow, I wouldn’t like to think what would have happened.
Really, she caught me as I was falling and picked me back up.
If it wasn’t for Emma doing her job I would never have questioned whether I was on the
right benefits or not. Twice that happened.
Once my benefit was increased it meant I didn’t have to rush back to work,
so that my body was fully recovered. Now I'd say that my business is running even
better previous to me becoming ill. Without Emma this wouldn’t have happened.
So, it's huge for me. It’s an absolute honour and what we do is
such a small part in helping somebody and whatever small part we can do to help
is fantastic. It's not a small part, it’s a huge part
This lady deserves a medal, a gold one too. I’ve never had cancer before so I wouldn’t
know how to deal with it. So having Macmillan there supporting me through,
walking me through, step by step was the best thing that could have happened.
God’s angels I call them.