Karen Anvil, midwifery support worker, recently shared her story of being diagnosed with Autism and ADHD at the age of 44. We were so moved and inspired by the magical ways she has been managing her neurodiversity over the years, how she hit the headlines with a famous picture, her recovery from a blood clot and Long Covid, and the amazing support she has received from members of the CUH family.
This is Karen’s story in her own words. We hope it helps others feel that they are not alone, we hope it gives some insight and inspires colleagues at CUH and beyond to celebrate and support colleagues with neurodifferences.
Hello! This is the first time I have publicly decided to 'come out', so to speak, about my Autism. Please bear with me….. I’m a chatter!
Question: Do any other neurodiverse staff have a supportive manager and team like I do? My name is Karen and I would like to share my story with you all…
Last year, I returned to work after over a year off recovering from a blood clot followed by Long Covid and during that time I was also diagnosed with Autism and ADHD (combined type) at the grand old age of 44!
I have two younger brothers on the spectrum and my daughter, Rachel, also does and she too works at CUH.
For me as an individual I have found the ADHD makes me appear more confident and able to cope with social situations. I have always been a bit ‘kooky’ but as many of you know, diagnosing females is a little bit trickier especially if you don’t have any additional needs or learning difficulties.
I now know that when I would say I was wearing my invisibility cloak every time I went to work, drank my polyjuice potion and described the thoughts in my head as my ‘flying keys’ and keeping them under control I was describing parts of my Autism and ADHD.
Please don’t misunderstand, there is a lot more to it than cloaks, flying keys and polyjuice potion but it is the way I managed to cope.
As the years progressed I found the invisibility cloak was a bit worn, the keys multiplied into swarms and the polyjuice lasted less and less each time and I struggled.
I now know that when I would say I was wearing my invisibility cloak every time I went to work, drank my polyjuice potion and described the thoughts in my head as my ‘flying keys’ and keeping them under control I was describing parts of my Autism and ADHD.
Things came to a head when I unintentionally found myself in the public eye, I took a rather famous photo on Christmas Day of what has been named the Royal Fab4 pic. I was trending all around the world (I am aware this sounds insane), doing interviews, documentaries, attending the BAFTAs, photo shoots and I even worked for the BBC and was a photographer in the crowds at the Harry and Megan wedding - I know sounds bonkers doesn’t it? The reason I mention this is because my ‘invisibility cloak’ vanished, I required polyjuice potion at a faster rate than I could produce and lets not even talk about the keys!
Anyway, the best thing I got out of that experience was that it gave me a small sum of money that enabled me to move trusts and start working at Addenbrooke’s Hospital.
However, I joined the month Covid started. I lasted until late December before I caught it and got a small blood clot and ultimately got Long Covid and POTS. Well that was it, I was done.
During this period of time I was assigned an employee relations officer and she ultimately changed my life, her name is Sophie Arthur. She supported and encouraged me and my return to work as I recovered and I finally got my NHS diagnosis. I couldn’t continue my role in theatres because of my Long Covid (turns out the air conditioners in theatres wasn’t actually good for my lungs) and I had to be redeployed. To say I was petrified would have been an understatement, so much change was intense and made me feel quite frankly, ‘nuts’!
However…and this is where it gets interesting. We saw a vacancy for a midwifery support worker and I decided to see what it was all about. Sophie was amazing and contacted them, took me to the meeting to see have a walk round and then I was offered a trial on Sara Ward.
I was assigned an employee relations officer and she ultimately changed my life, her name is Sophie Arthur.
And this is it, I was working in an area I’d never tried, working on an actual ward and dealing with more people than I have ever worked with… IT.WAS.TOUGH. I cannot lie. I was coming to terms with my diagnosis and what this actually meant for me as a person and was learning to ‘unmask’ and trust people all adapting to a new environment. I thought about quitting, but then I decided to lower my guard and gave permission for my newly appointed manager, Louise Langford, to share my diagnosis with my colleagues and work with Louise and our matron, Karen Deakin, to make reasonable adjustments. Things like my uniform, I have sensory issues and adaptions were made, flexible working, how I communicate with my team - for example how I report sickness to a bleep holder (I’m allowed to text their mobile instead of call because I struggle talking over the phone because I find it difficult not seeing facial expressions), meetings with Louise are longer, purple passport set up, Occupational Health meeting arranged for extra advice, my shifts are set so I have routine, a separate space if I become overwhelmed on shift (which I haven’t yet).
I decided to lower my guard and gave permission for my newly appointed manager, Louise Langford, to share my diagnosis with my colleagues and work with Louise and our matron, Karen Deakin, to make reasonable adjustments.
I was assigned a buddy who I absolutely adore, her name is Sue Jaques and she is wonderful, patient, understanding and does not patronise. Talking about my team - my goodness have you ever been on Sara ward? My team are the most hardworking, lovely, accepting and close team I have ever worked with in my entire 14 years working for the NHS. They accept me and my quirks and do not treat me as though I have a disability at all. They are led by the best manager I have ever had and I genuinely feel a part of a family when I go there. Louise and the team talk to me and are curious about autism and allow me to chat if it comes up. I share things like TikToks if I come across one I feel is relevant and she shares this.
There is so much more I could say (ask Sophie and Louise) but I think I shall leave it there.
I was assigned a buddy who I absolutely adore, her name is Sue Jaques and she is wonderful, patient, understanding and does not patronise. My team are the most hardworking, lovely, accepting and close team I have ever worked with in my entire 14 years working for the NHS.
So from me, I just wanted to publicly say a huge thank you to Sophie, Louise, Karen, Sara ward, clinic 23 and all the staff on the delivery unit I have come across for supporting and to continue supporting one of the 15% of working autistics! YOU all make a difference to people like me.
From Karen and her keys