"I feel like I’ve grown a lot. It might sound weird, but after those four days sailing, I feel at peace."
Diagnosed with Lymphoma in 2004 when he was six, Nathaniel is still discovering long term impacts of recovery.
“When I was 14 I fractured my knee and didn’t know, but it was down to vitamin D deficiency. On this trip, I found out steroids can make your bones brittle. Chemotherapy has affected me in more ways than one. It’s not like I’m all cured now.”
Having people around him who understood that for the first time was "amazing".
"There’s no awkwardness or breaking the ice. You finally feel like you have people around that understand you."
Because he had a childhood cancer, Nathaniel still had feelings about being ill he’d bottled up.
“A lot of things I’ve held in. Not because I wanted to, but because I had no one that could truly relate to me or understand how I felt.
"So, coming here, I met so many people who have been in the same shoes as me. You finally feel like you have people around that understand you.”
Having that one common factor meant he was able to instantly relate to everyone – everyone knew why they were there, so striking up conversation was easy.
"I feel more free and at peace."
Just a few days apart from his normal routine was enough for Nathaniel to feel a change in his mood.
“I actually feel like I’ve grown a lot. It might sound weird, but after those four days sailing, I feel at peace.
"I had feelings after treatment no one can really relate to besides other patients, but I’d never been around anyone else who’d been through that before.”
He was able to work through some unresolved feelings on the trip, and now feels empowered to share what he has been through to help other people.
“I’m way happier. I feel like I don’t have to think about that experience again unless I want to uplift someone."
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...
