An Addenbrooke’s nurse who works on the ward that looked after her as a child leukaemia patient will on Sunday put her best foot forward for the hospital’s charity.
Paediatric oncology nurse Molly Shelley, 22, who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia when she was three, will run the TTP Cambridge Half Marathon in aid of Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust.
And in April she’ll be taking part on the London Marathon in a bid to raise more funds for Leukaemia UK and Blood Cancer UK – building on the fundraising efforts of her family when she was unwell.
Molly said:
It has made me who I am today. It's driven me into this career and made me do things I wouldn’t have done otherwise. I hope to show that there is light at the end of what can be a very dark tunnel.
Molly Shelley
As a toddler Molly suffered unexplained symptoms including leg pain, high temperatures, ear infections bruising, rashes and a distended stomach.
Tests revealed Molly had leukaemia, so she underwent six weeks of chemotherapy, which put her in remission. It was followed by two-years’ of chemotherapy, lumbar punctures and blood transfusions before being given the all-clear, aged five.
After graduating from university in December, Molly interviewed for her current role in January. Her interviewer was the ward manager on duty when she was treated, and Molly now knows four staff who were on the ward at the same time.
Molly said:
I’m very grateful and lucky to say that I only have positive memories of what was obviously, a very difficult time. I feel really grateful for that.
My mum always said it was weird that I felt so comfortable in a hospital. Now I couldn’t even imagine myself doing another job.
If I'm speaking to families, I am always thinking about how I interact. I think, ‘how would I want my parents to have received this?’ And that’s how I go about it.
Since becoming a nurse Molly never fails to be impressed by the resilience of young patients – and the efforts of colleagues to make them smile.
She recalled:
The staff had put on a bit of a mini disco. The children were stood there with their drip stands and pumps, with all their wires and everything, and the staff were dancing with them.
There was a little disco ball and some lights, and they were in a circle holding hands, dancing – the parents, kids and staff. This is what it is all about. This is why I do this. The kids are just incredible.
Molly Shelley
To make a donation to ACT visit www.act4addenbrookes.org.uk/donate (opens in a new tab)