What the Law Doesn’t Protect: A Parent’s Reality in Childhood Cancer

If you have or have had cancer, you are protected by law from unfair treatment at work for the rest of your life. This means that it is unlawful for an employer to treat you less favourably (discriminate against you) because of cancer. But if it were your child that has cancer, there is no UK employment law that mandates to protect your income or wages if you were to take some time off work to look after your seriously sick child.

I am very fortunate to have employers who have paid my wages out of their compassion and discretion during the last nearly six years. I am aware that obviously this will not be the case in the long term and I have already lost a considerable amount of income from my weekend shifts (additional work I was doing) at The Royal Victoria Hospital, Buckland Hospital, Oaklands Health Centre, Whitfield Village Hall in order to make ends meet. My husband Terry lost his income in order to take care of Maya.

It is well recognised that having a child or adolescent with cancer puts a large financial strain on a family unit with the extra costs involved. These include: -The cost of living and eating away from home - The impact on one or both parents/carers’ ability to work - Extra childcare costs for siblings - Travelling expenses between home and the hospital. - Holidays / activities for making beautiful memories.

The whole Nash family is very grateful for all the support that we have been receiving so far, as we heavily rely on these raised funds to cover the extra costs incurred mentioned above.

Thank you Tiffany of Kent Review for your much-needed support.

It really means a lot to our family. 🙏