A Walsall Healthcare Chaplain has put together a short story about a mother’s breast cancer experience that he hopes will be helpful to patients, families and friends.

Reverend Anthony Swaby is the Trust Chaplain at Walsall Manor Hospital. He has a personal interest in pastorally supporting people who are either living with a cancer diagnosis or awaiting the results of oncology treatment, and has friends who are in this position or have died after a cancer diagnosis. 

He is keen to support Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust on Breast Cancer Now’s Wear it Pink Day this Friday 23 October. Anthony has written a short Story – Vision Beyond the Rainbow that will be available to buy at a small cost. The proceeds will be donated to various areas within the Trust that support patients with breast cancer.

He said: “I have used a fictional family as the basis for the short story but the different feelings, experiences and reflections that unfold are rooted in the real-life conversations I’ve had over the years both in my personal and professional life.

“My hope is that by bringing these together to give a voice to everyone who is impacted when someone receives a breast cancer diagnosis, has created a helpful source of support. People can read it in isolation or with friends and relatives. Some may prefer to read it through with a healthcare professional who has supported them.

“I have also worked closely with our Trust Medical Secretaries Katie James, who was diagnosed last summer, and Jodie Stokes for the Wear It Pink Day, as well as with our Trust’s Well Wishers charity which supports breast cancer patients too.

Anthony will be in the main atrium of the Manor Hospital between 9am and 2.30pm and each copy of Vision Beyond the Rainbow will be £2.50, with people able to buy two copies for £4.