Progressing her nursing career in the UK was an opportunity Micha couldn’t miss, but how would she cope after receiving shocking news?

“My Mum wanted me to be a nurse” remembers Micha “She loved the white uniforms the nurses had and wanted to see me wearing one.”

Micha qualified as a nurse in The Philippines, working initially on surgical wards and then intensive care. She was keen to further her nursing career but felt opportunities there were limited. When she got the opportunity to move to the UK and work for the NHS, she took it.

“I came to the UK in 2023” recalls Micha “and loved my job working as a staff nurse on a Cardio Thoracic ICU ward.

“It’s so rewarding to see my patients discharged and going home once they’ve recovered. I get quite emotional thinking about them smiling and looking so happy to be going home to their families, especially the older patients. I know I’ve done a good job when I see that!”

Micha is a long way from home and was regularly sending money back to her family in The Philippines to support them.

Unfortunately, this all stopped suddenly in April 2024 when she was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Micha endured surgeries and months of radio- and chemotherapy treatment, unable to carry on her nursing role or earn any money.

“It’s been very difficult to deal with” says Micha “After one dose of radiotherapy I was so ill I had to spend hours in intensive care to recover.

“At present, my doctor says the tumour is not progressing so the medication is containing it”

But sadly for Micha, aged just 28, further operations on the brain tumour are not an option.

“It’s all over my brain” she explains “It’s not operable. So I am now in palliative care, and I only have a couple of years, at most, to live.”

With costs rising and no sign of Micha returning to work, she has been relying on her husband’s wage to keep them both going. Because of Micha’s working visa status she can’t claim any benefits from the government that could help her situation, so she was struggling to know where to turn.

“I was desperate for help” Micha says “and I didn’t feel any shame in asking for support.”

Micha discovered Cavell through a nursing colleague and the support team were able to give Micha a grant.

“I was so happy to get the support! I was able to pay for essential bills like council tax, the water bill and help my husband with buying food for us.”

Micha is grateful that Cavell exists to help nursing and midwifery colleagues going through crises.

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who donates and fundraises for Cavell to support nurses in my situation, it means so much.”

If you would like to find out more about the support that Cavell offers, click here to visit the Cavell Support Hub.