I am writing to acknowledge the excellence of the work provided by the
family and management of the Vanessa Anderson Memorial Trust Fund, that
is,
‘Vanessa’s
Memorial Cancer Care Fund'
For the past eight years I have worked in the Haematology Unit at Royal
North Shore Hospital as a Senior Social Worker. My clinical
expertise is based in the support and counselling of patients suffering
from haematological malignancies, their families and friends.
In my professional opinion I believe that the support and assistance
offered through Vanessa’s Memorial Cancer Care
Fund’ is second to none. Vanessa’s
Memorial Cancer Care Fund has provided a direct and significant
improvement in the comfort and support available to our country
families in their fight against cancer.
The Management and staff of the Trust Fund have consistently
demonstrated their strong commitment to meeting the needs of patients
and families. In their efforts to address these needs, they
have displayed initiative, flexibility, creativity, sensitivity and
good ‘common sense’. The deep level of
understanding The Trust members hold, in regard to the many issues
facing a family at such a critical time, has served to reassure our
patients that their plight is understood and that they are not alone.
The Trust Fund conveys a ‘personal touch’ to the
patients and families I have referred. This personal touch
places our patients at ease. It shows our patients that the
trustees recognise, ‘how hard it is to be so far from home
and loved ones, and have to fight cancer’. Our
families and patients understand that Vanessa’s Memorial
Cancer Care Fund will help wherever possible. Patients have
told me that the words and actions of Vanessa’s family and
management team have helped them significantly, as well as touched them
personally.
Being diagnosed with a cancer is a traumatic event in the life of a
person and their family. The difficulties involved are
exacerbated by the separation a country based family experiences in
having to travel to their specialist treatment centre. The
immediacy with which Vanessa’s Memorial Cancer Care Fund
responds, demonstrates the deep understanding The Trust has of the
nature of the crisis facing our patients and their families. This
personal understanding sets ‘The Trust’ apart from
other support services. If assistance is possible, patients
feel confident that it will come when it is most needed and that it
will happen fast.
The Vanessa Anderson Memorial Trust Fund has greatly reduced the
emotional stress, psychological burden and practical dilemmas facing
many of our patients and their families. The Trust
Funds’ work serves to empower these people to maintain a
higher degree of control and dignity over their lives than would
otherwise have been possible. Their efforts ensure that an
increasing number of our country patients enjoy the benefits of home
even if they are away from home.
Words alone cannot express our gratitude
Yours sincerely
Ray Araullo
Senior Social Worker Haematology
Royal North Shore Hospital
18th November 2002.