A library manager’s first month in her new role took a terrifying turn when she experienced a sudden, severe medical episode. Lucy Jeffery, working at Gorseinon Library, found herself unable to stand, with the room spinning and a sensation of pins and needles in her arms. Sweating and violently ill, she feared the worst – a heart attack might be on the cards.
In this frightening moment, her incredible colleagues sprang into action. No fewer than seven team members, some from Swansea’s other libraries, joined forces to support Dr Jeffery. They stuck by her side for hours while awaiting paramedics. Eventually, one colleague drove her, along with her wife, Anna, to Morriston Hospital.
Dr Jeffery has since been diagnosed with Meniere’s disease, a rare inner ear condition that affects balance and hearing. Describing the situation as “horrific,” she expressed immense gratitude towards her colleagues for their unwavering support that day. “The fear of not knowing what was happening was overwhelming,” she said.
After a night in the hospital and consulting a specialist, Dr Jeffery discovered she has this lifelong condition, which can’t be cured but can be managed with treatment. She’d had bouts of vertigo earlier but hadn’t imagined it leading to this. Now, with medication and lifestyle adjustments, she’s back at work, determined to keep moving forward.
Dr Jeffery’s personal history makes the scare even more poignant. Her father, Allan Jeffery, survived a cardiac arrest four years ago, thanks to the timely intervention of a nearby nurse and trainee doctor. She reflects on how these dramatic events remind her not to take health for granted and appreciates the support from her “phenomenal” support network of family and colleagues.
Despite this challenging diagnosis, Dr Jeffery is optimistic: “Support from my colleagues and family has made me think I can carry on – take things a bit easier but don’t look back.”