Woman with blood cancer gifts treat boxes to Norwich patients

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Laura Devlin and

Kayleigh PoacherNorfolk

BBC A man and a woman standing next to each other, each holding a white cardboard box and smiling. The man, to left, is wearing a blue hospital uniform with NHS on the chest in white, and his ID bag hanging down. He has brown hair and a beard. The woman has cheek-length blonde hair with a short-cropped fringe and glasses. She is wearing a white top with long black sleeves. BBC

The hospital’s Ryan Roffey, pictured with Gemma, said the boxes were a “nice surprise” for patients

A woman with blood cancer who felt “lonely and isolated” during her hospital treatment has created care packages to give a boost to patients.

Personal trainer Gemma Seager, of Norwich, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2021, following tests for persistent back pain.

She was admitted to hospital for a stem cell transplant on Christmas Day that year, when visits were prohibited due to Covid.

“People offered me support in the way they could – gifts, and reaching out with video calls – and that’s why I started thinking about these boxes,” said Ms Seager, who has been in remission since 2022.

“It was a very lonely time; you have two weeks [in hospital] and it’s quite isolating.

“The knowledge that somebody knows what you are going through is a big support for people.”

A head and shoulders image of a woman with a closely-shaved head of dark blonde hair, flecked with grey. She is smiling at the camera. She is wearing glasses. She is in a hospital bed and a IV drip of red fluid is suspended next to her.

Gemma had no choice but to go through her treatment alone

Myeloma is diagnosed when not all the blood cells made in the bone marrow work properly. It can affect different parts of the body, including the kidneys and immune system.

It cannot usually be cured, but it can be managed with treatment.

Ms Seager had her own cells harvested at the Norwich and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH), followed by chemotherapy to condition her body for the transplant.

She stayed in hospital for a fortnight for the intensive treatment, and continues to be on maintenance medication.

A Life in Progress An open cardboard box containing closely-packed items: Aveeno baby wipes, CeraVe Moisturing Lotion in a pump-action white bottle, Candy Kittens Eton Mess sweets in a resealable pink and white pouch, grey woollen socks, Dr PawPaw balm in a tourquoise box, a small bottle of yellow cordial.A Life in Progress

The care packages contain more than a dozen products

She later learned that only 35 to 40 people each year have stem cell transplants at NNUH, with no support packages available with their specific needs in mind.

Her community-interest company, A Life in Progress, uses donations to create boxes which cover practical gifts such as cosy socks, earplugs and skincare products.

There are also plenty of other thoughtful treats, including a heated eye mask, sweets and a colouring book and pencil.

“The boxes are packed with lots of goodies to help get them through it, help relax, help them with the side effects,” added Ms Seager.

Each NNUH stem cell transplant patient now receives a box, with Ms Seager making it her mission to eventually reach every patient in the UK.

“It is a great feeling to be able to give someone this nice surprise before their elective admission, ” said Ryan Roffey, NNUH’s bone marrow transplant co-ordinator.

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