Liam's Story

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"We created a sort of friendship where you can talk quite freely about everything, which I wouldn’t have done weeks earlier."

For 21-year-old Liam, his trip was a chance to form bonds with people his age who had been through the same thing.

Only after blacking out and having a cardiac event did Liam discover he had a pituitary tumour.

He came on a trip following two surgeries and five weeks of radiotherapy, with another surgery to come. By the end of the week he felt more optimistic and reenergised.

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"The trip helped me build up my tolerance to work and being active."

Liam had gone back to work the day after he finished treatment, but his body kicked back at him.

“It hit me to the point I was sleeping most of the day for two weeks.”

He was convinced to give the trip a go after a recommendation in hospital promising water fights, dolphin spotting, and barbecues – all of which helped him feel physically motivated again.

"We created a sort of friendship where you can talk quite freely about everything."

While in hospital, he saw people quickly come and go, making it difficult to form bonds. He didn’t want to invest in something so temporary when what he needed was a dependable support network.

The trip was a chance to make those meaningful connections.

“We created a sort of friendship where you can talk quite freely about everything, which I wouldn’t have done three or four weeks earlier.”

Having found a place to share his experience with people who understand, Liam ended his trip with his eyes set on returning for another as soon as possible.

Feeling inspired or want to help others like Liam?

If you, or someone you know, could benefit from Trust support, or you want to make a difference to young lives after cancer, here's how you can...

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