Community to the Rescue: Volunteer Helps Woman Heal After Surgery
Local Service Helps Woman Recover After Surgeries
A Norfolk woman has received a helping hand from a local volunteer service after undergoing two major surgeries. The woman, who prefers to remain anonymous, was recently discharged from the hospital after having a kidney removed and cataract surgery on one of her eyes. While she was recovering, her daughter came up from Devon to help, but could only stay for a short time before needing to return home. That’s when the Norfolk and Waveney Community Support Service (CSS) stepped in to offer help.
The Community Support Service is a partnership between Norwich Age Concern, the British Red Cross and Voluntary Norfolk. It seeks to use volunteers to check up on people living nearby who have just left hospital. That’s what happened here.
The daughter contacted CSS to request assistance with household chores, as her mum couldn’t bend over or move too much due to her recent surgeries. The CSS team quickly responded by sending a volunteer to help.
How the Community Support Service helped
Before the volunteer started, a “connector” from CSS visited the woman at home to check how she was doing. They looked into what kind of support she needed. The woman admitted she was a little nervous, saying, “I’ve never had anyone support me like this before, so I’m not sure what to expect.” However, when the volunteer came, the initial visit went well, and they discussed how they could help.
The volunteer kindly offered to assist for up to six weeks. They helped with light household tasks and even sorted through items that could be donated to charity. The woman was grateful for the help, especially since she was due to have another cataract operation on her other eye.
Unfortunately, the second surgery was delayed by a week, but CSS was able to extend the volunteer’s support to cover the extra time. This meant that the woman had a total of seven weeks of assistance during her recovery.
Thanks to the volunteer’s help, the woman has been able to focus on getting better without pushing herself too hard. She said having extra support during such a difficult time has made her recovery much easier, both physically and mentally.
Now, the woman is starting to regain her independence, feeling much better, and is thankful for the care she received. She’s looking forward to the future and hopes to continue to recover well with the support of her family and friends.
This story is a great example of how community services like CSS can make a big difference in people’s lives, especially during challenging times.
How to volunteer with the Community Support Service
The CSS is looking for volunteers to check up on their neighbours. If you have a few hours to spare each week, please think about volunteering with the CSS:
