Peter is an outgoing Englishman, instantly recognisable with his bright clothing and distinctive glasses. Although he has lived in Australia with his wife, two children and daughter in law since 1987, it was a five-day road trip in 2017 that changed his life. Driving through Ballarat, his wife found a 22-acre property that had just been listed. They moved to Ballarat, and in Peter’s eyes “never looked back”.
However, in late 2019, Peter’s new life was turned upside down when he was diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic colon cancer, which had spread to his liver and lungs. Prior to starting chemotherapy, Peter needed an ileostomy, which ultimately resulted in a permanent colostomy bag. What was scheduled to be a three-day hospital stay terrifyingly ballooned out to a 41-day stay, including 10 days in an induced coma. Peter had an allergic reaction to the anaesthetic.
Peter was still recovering to prepare for his chemotherapy, when a problem with his kidneys meant he began to lose blood, and his recovery was further delayed with more surgery. As he was finally preparing to be discharged, he contracted Covid-19. It was in the early days of 2020 – Peter was placed into another induced coma to protect him from this new, unknown virus.
Peter eventually received his first dose of chemotherapy in late 2020, but he did not discover the BRICC Wellness Centre until 2023. Peter explains what the Wellness Centre means to him.
“I had walked past the Wellness Centre so many times, but I never once came in. It was only that one afternoon while I was waiting for my daughter to pick me up, that one of the oncology nurses told me I could wait in the Wellness Centre.”
“Using the Wellness Centre was made so easy by the volunteers. They showed me around and told me there was a bowel cancer support group the following afternoon, which I went to.”
“When I went home and told my wife, it was such a comfort for her to know I had found a support group and was connecting with other people battling as hard as me. These people are with you and get it! I've made friends from all walks of life and learnt new skills. The massage is good too!”
The staff and volunteers at the Wellness Centre are fundamental to providing holistic care for BRICC patients.
“The Wellness Centre is such a godsend. The volunteers go to the nth degree to help you and nothing's too much for them. And they are always keeping an eye out for you, they are always updating you with what you can and can't do and everything like that.”
“Everyone who comes through the door are never left on their own.”
“I can’t believe I’d walked past it for two years.”
Peter has attended many of the group classes offered by the Wellness Centre, including bag buddies support group, colorectal cancer group, art therapy, shiatsu and oncology massage.
While these groups offer a lot of practical support, Peter explains their real value.
“We just come and talk - most of the time we don’t talk about details but having the shared experience is important. And now that we have a specialised Group Room, I can see that people are opening up even more. It’s been good for all of us.”
But just like the first day Peter used the Wellness Centre, the value of the centre extends well beyond his experience.
“When I go home and I tell my wife what I’ve done and what we’ve spoken about, I think it helps her and the family to know that they are not the only people who are caring for me and giving me support. The cancer journey is hard with many humps and hurdles so you rely on your family and friends, but to be able to come in into the Wellness Centre and talk to people, is such an important thing for all of us.”
