I attended an extremely inspirational buddy training course over the weekend of 19 and 20 September 2009. Linda Greeff, a director and founder of PLWC, facilitated the course with great enthusiasm and wisdom. I am not a cancer survivor myself, but have been touched by cancer in many ways. I am closely involved with the organisation and felt that I would be able to learn a lot and understand better by attending the course.
The content of the training was as follow:
o Understanding the goals of the “Cancer Buddy” program.
o Understanding the role of the “Cancer Buddy” volunteer and how to support people living with cancer.
o Basic communication skills.
o How to engage with newly diagnosed cancer patients within the “Patient Active Model”.
For me personally the weekend served as an eye-opener in terms of what the cancer survivor and his or her family goes through from the moment the diagnoses is made. All the emotions of shock, fear, uncertainty, severe distress and loss of control (to name a few) that the survivor, caregiver and family face is overwhelming. And that is what the training is all about. You, as a cancer survivor who experienced all the emotions of going through cancer and the treatments can be of so much help to a new survivor and his or her family. As a buddy you will be able to make the life of someone else a little bit easier at a time that is not easy. You will be able to have the satisfaction of giving back and helping someone else.
I’ve learnt that not only the survivor, but also the caregiver, needs attention. A small gesture like just sitting with the person, holding their hand, to fetch the children from school or dropping of a prepared meal might make a big difference to the family. It’s also to listen if they want to talk, but to understand if they do not want to talk.
I’ve learnt that there is no such thing as a cancer sufferer. The moment that a person is diagnosed with cancer, he or she becomes a cancer survivor.
I’ve learnt that laughter and being positive is an inspiration to the soul.
Feedback provided by Jana Strydom
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