Case Study: John Gebbie

He had just been diagnosed with another melanoma in his lung. He had had numerous other small cancerous bits and pieces cut out all over his body, but mostly on his back. John loved to swim but was having difficulty with overarm/freestyle because his left shoulder was very restricted.

John had never had any form of bodywork before and was a little nervous, but soon realised it was actually very relaxing and pleasant. He had been given two vouchers and in between session one and session two the melanoma on his lung miraculously disappeared.

Over the months I worked with John I used a range of modalities with a view to getting more movement in his shoulder, starting with massage, then releasing the scar tissue around his neck as well as a lot of healing. It didn’t take long for him to be swimming freestyle again and he was very happy.

Over the next two years I worked with John regularly. We had some big conversations and we had a lot of laughs. He usually arrived in a very positive and upbeat frame of mind, but towards the end of his life, as a melanoma appeared on his arm, then another on his lung, and surgery was no longer an option, he would sometimes arrive feeling a bit despondent.

Sadly, John started to lose the use of one arm, due to the lung cancer spreading to his brachial-plexus, then he deteriorated quite rapidly and moved into Nurse Maude Hospice.

I continued to visit John in the hospice and last saw him a couple of days before he died (just prior to Christmas 2020). He was unconscious and very restless so I did some healing until he calmed down.

Chris told me that after my visit, he remained in a very peaceful state and didn’t require any more pain relief. It was truly a privilege to work with John and improve his quality of life during his cancer journey.

John thought Donna was "the bee’s knees"



“John thought Donna was ‘the bee’s knees’. He had metastatic melanoma. We were blessed to have him with us for six years after diagnosis and he was blessed with two vouchers to go and see Donna for therapeutic massage. This then became a regular six-weekly and latterly more frequent massage. Donna brought something special into his life – friendship, loving care, and on one occasion after a ‘strong’ workout on his neck and shoulders, she rang him later in the day or maybe the next day, to make sure that he was alright.

Then another time, she enquired whether we had lost a child. It was a miscarriage at 11 weeks. Donna told him that there was a young lady standing at the end of the table. She said “I love you Dad and Mum and my name is Sarah”. Nobody knew that we had named the child Sarah. Absolutely blew us away and ecstatic news! More recently, John had two appointments in one afternoon. John saw Donna first and when he left, he didn’t realise that he had dropped his cell-phone on her driveway. A courier noticed it and gave it to Donna. She realised it was John’s and drove all the way across town to leave it in our letterbox – exceptional care! Donna also gave John cards with positive comments on them – which we both really appreciated.

Sadly, John passed away 0211831066 but he was very much the richer for Donna’s massages, friendship and ‘time out’.”