#TeamNorthMid blogs

Who are you, what's your role at North Mid and how long have you been a member of the North Mid family? 

Hi, everyone. My name is Kaveeraj Lingiah, however everyone knows me as Kavee. I work for the oncology department as a tracker in the multi-disciplinary team. I joined the trust in December 2015 after working for Mitie as a janitor for nearly 8 months. I first joined the health records department through the staff bank, then switched to Chemo Day Unit as an Administrator, before joining the MDT. I now work remotely from home since I was diagnosed with Stage 4 High tumour burden Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Cancer grade 1-2 in September 2019. 

Looking back across my journey from where I started to now, I feel I am the living proof that anything is possible when you start from the bottom to reach where I am now.

What makes you stand out from the crowd – what’s your USP? 

Being open to new ideas and perspectives helps me as a person to think creatively and come up with new solutions to problems, and Networking has also helped me to build relationships with people in different industries - I’ve learned about new opportunities, gained access to valuable information, and make connections that could help me in the future. I think standing out from the crowd requires a combination of being unique, being consistent, being well-connected, and being progressive. 

What, if any, challenges have you experienced in your life? 

Back home in Mauritius, I was working for one of the largest media newsrooms which was great, challenging and fun.  After my children were born, however, I wanted to give them the absolute best education - like many parents dream of - so I moved to Europe. 

I first moved to Ireland, then to France, but felt in both countries that I could not see my dreams becoming reality, so I came to the UK in 2004. I started to study computer programming, and work at the same time. One of my brothers came to join me in the UK, and we moved out from South to north London, and in 2005 I went back home to bring my eldest daughter with me in the UK leaving my youngest one and my wife there.

Back in the UK, I was parenting solo and I hardly had a superstar's life. Fortunately, I had a fantastic group of friends as well as my brother who supported me. Maybe none of them knew exactly what I was going through, but they babysat and looked after her with love, while I worked and studied, which I still appreciate to this day.  

I started to realise that I needed to choose between my education, work, my daughter, and her education, as I could not manage them all at the same time. So, I chose to put my education away and to look after her as a lone dad. We somehow managed, with love and support from friends and family but it was difficult, I still remember the cold snowy December, she stayed with me in my office as usual after school. I had to wrap her up while she was asleep, board public transport and carry her home in my arms after work. Overall, I really enjoyed this father - daughter relationship! My wife and my youngest daughter then came to join us in the UK after.   

In September 2019, I was diagnosed with stage 4 Follicular lymphoma. after presenting myself at North Mid with palpitations and shortness of breath. I was treated on PETReA study with 6 x cycles of Rituximab & Bendamustine in December 2019 to February 2020, and initially I responded well with the treatment and had a complete metabolic response on 30 April 2020.

After my initial chemotherapy, I was suffering from post-chemo memory loss and was referred to the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in December 2020, for further investigations.

Unfortunately, in March 2021, some new lumps in my neck were diagnosed as Grade 3A Follicular Lymphoma. Currently, I am under the care of a consultant haematologist at University College Hospital London, where I was enrolled for TRANSCEND-FOL CAR T trial back in August 2021. In this trial, the patient's own T- cells are genetically altered to recognise a protein (CD19) on the surface of the cancer cells. These altered cells called CD19 CAR-T cells are then given back to the patient to target the cancer cells and treat the lymphoma.  CAR T-cell therapy uses the patient’s own immune system to fight cancer. It is different to other cancer treatments in that it is personalised and made specifically for you. It involves collecting your own blood cells (T-cells, responsible for fighting infection), reprogramming them in the laboratory to seek and fight the cancer cells, and giving them back to you via infusion

I was admitted at the UCLH for this treatment and discharged on 09 September 2021. but re-admitted to hospital in June 2022 with blurred vision which was found to be bitemporal hemianopia. However, my Neuro Ophthalmologist feels that my symptoms were not suggestive of any ocular or orbital pathology and it is probably due to presbyopia – I think we can all identify with aging! I was so grateful to have a second chance of life that I even went to Notre Dame in Paris to pray, and to seek forgiveness and blessing.

Despite these challenges, I have learned to overcome them through self-reflection and seeking help from others. I have learned to be more self-compassionate and to focus on my strengths rather than my weaknesses. I have also learned to set realistic goals and to prioritize my time and responsibilities. Additionally, I have learned the importance of communication and vulnerability in building and maintaining healthy relationships.  

How have, or do other people treat you? 

First and foremost, I want to be treated with respect. This includes being listened to and taken seriously, being given credit for my ideas and contributions, and having my boundaries and opinions respected.

In addition to respect, I believe that kindness is essential in how I want to be treated, and that treating others with kindness creates a positive and supportive environment, which benefits everyone.

We all have the right to be treated with respect and kindness, and it is essential for us to extend these values to others. 

What's a positive to take from diversity? 

Diversity brings many positive benefits to a community, organisation, or society. One of the most important is the potential for increased creativity and innovation. When people with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives come together, they bring a wider range of ideas and ways of thinking. This can lead to more creative solutions and ideas, which can be especially valuable in fields such as business, science, and technology.

Another positive aspect of diversity is the potential for improved decision-making. When a group of people with diverse perspectives comes together to decide, they are likely to consider a wider range of options and potential consequences. This can lead to better, more well-informed decisions that are more likely to be successful.

Diversity can also be beneficial for the individual. When people are exposed to diverse perspectives, they can learn to think more critically and independently, and develop a greater appreciation for different cultures and ways of life. This can lead to personal growth and development and can help individuals to become more open-minded and understanding.