Life as an Adoptee - Vanessa's Story

For our final episode this season, we're shining a light on something less talked about when it comes to careers and education - apprenticeships. At Healthwatch Essex, we're lucky to have several apprentices who bring fresh insights to our various teams. In this episode we meet six of our apprentices - Libby, Sam, Grace, Renée, Alicia and Max - who reveal what doing an apprenticeship is really like. They speak about the benefits of an apprenticeship, some popular myths about apprenticeships, career goals they have, challenges they have faced and what they like most about their apprenticeships.

For our #16DaysOfActivism series, our Trauma Ambassador Rosie has shared her lived experience of financial and economic abuse. Rosie works in the banking industry so she also has lots of suggestions for people in similar situations. Find out more about the 16 Days of Activism here - https://healthwatchessex.org.uk/2024/11/welcome-to-16-days-of-activism-2024/ Please note this episode contains discussion of abuse. If you are affected by any of the issues discussed in this podcast and would like to seek support, please contact our ⁠⁠Information and Guidance service - https://healthwatchessex.org.uk/speak-to-our-team/

In this episode, we talk to Teresa, a volunteer for the UK Sepsis Trust, who shares her son Ben’s experience of being diagnosed with sepsis. Teresa talks about the signs and symptoms of sepsis, and how these can vary for different age groups. She shares Ben’s story of having sepsis and septic shock. Teresa wants everyone to feel confident to ask ‘Could it be sepsis?’ if they are worried about a loved one’s condition. Please note this episode contains discussion of bereavement. If you are affected by any of the issues discussed in this podcast and would like to seek support, please contact our ⁠Information and Guidance service.

In this episode we talk to Vanessa about her experience of trauma and adoption. Vanessa shares the impact of being adopted as an infant, and the effect this has had on her mental and physical health, especially without access to her family medical records. Vanessa is part of the UK Adult Adoptee Network who advocate for adoptee issues and adoptee rights. If you have been affected by anything discussed on our podcast and would like to find further support, please get in touch with our Information and Guidance Team. Please note this episode contains discussions of mental health, trauma, abuse, and adoption.

Please note this episode contains discussions of suicide and addiction. If you are affected by any of these issues and would like to seek support, please contact our Information and Guidance service. In this episode, we speak to Jacqueline about her experience of living with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and Fibromyalgia. She shares the challenges she faced in getting diagnosed, as well as how the pain affects her day to day life and her mental health.

In this episode, we speak to Anna, who has functional neurological disorder (FND). She shares how she was diagnosed, the symptoms she experiences and the impact that the condition has on her life. If you are affected by any of the issues discussed and would like to seek support, please contact our Information and Guidance service ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://healthwatchessex.org.uk/speak-to-our-team/⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Please note this episode contains discussions of eating disorders. If you are affected by any of these issues and would like to seek support, please contact our Information and Guidance service ⁠⁠⁠https://healthwatchessex.org.uk/speak-to-our-team/⁠⁠⁠. For Carers Week 2024, Michelle shares her story of caring for her two children who have ARFID and Perthes' Disease. Like many carers, Michelle didn't consider herself a carer initially, despite the extra support and advocacy she provides. She describes how these conditions impact her family's daily lives and what support she has been able to access to help them. Michelle is one of our Carer Experts by Experience at Healthwatch Essex. If you care for a loved one, you can also share your thoughts and experiences with us through our Carers Voices project. Michelle's Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1052428189199424/

Please note this episode contains discussions of traumatic events, active combat, and suicide. If you are affected by any of these issues and would like to seek support, please contact our Information and Guidance service ⁠⁠https://healthwatchessex.org.uk/speak-to-our-team/⁠⁠. In this episode, we speak to Mark and Johno from iCarp, a programme that treats trauma by combining fishing with peer support. Dr Mark Wheeler was an IAPT therapist supporting veterans with their trauma when he realised a new approach was needed, as many veterans were not reaching out for help. Johno is a veteran who has been supported by iCarp and now volunteers as an angling coach. In the episode, they share details of their new programme to support military veterans and working/ex/retired 999 and emergency services staff. If you are interested, you can contact Mark via their website https://icarp.org.uk/contact/

In this episode, we speak to a drag artist with an unusual superpower - donating blood to newborn babies! An Nemia is a storytelling drag queen who has anaemia and her blood condition means she can donate blood to babies and ill mothers in delivery. If An Nemia has inspired you, you can find out more about donating blood yourself here. Check out An Nemia on Instagram here.

In this episode, we talk to Errol McKellar MBE about his diagnosis of prostate cancer for prostate cancer awareness month. Following his diagnosis in 2010, Errol has encouraged many men to get tested for prostate cancer by offering a discount on their car's MOT if they showed him they had been for a PSA test, saving nearly 50 lives in the process. Errol shares how prostate cancer has changed his life and the important work he now does through the Errol McKellar Foundation and Prostate Cancer UK.