A young woman who has just completed a degree in nursing has landed a job on the same hospital ward where she was treated for cancer as a child.
Millie Osman, 22, was diagnosed with Leukemia when she was just two years old and she went through two years of chemotherapy, mostly on the Bergholt Ward at Ipswich Hospital but she also spent time at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.
This month Millie, who was raised in Ipswich and now lives in Great Blakenham, has handed in her final dissertation for a child nursing degree at the University of Suffolk, and she is now starting work on Bergholt Ward, among many of the staff who cared for her two decades ago.
She said: “I’m asked all the time if I remember anything from that time and I say the only memories I have are good. We stayed in touch with a lot of the nurses so that’s what inspired me to get into it.
“I always wanted to be more involved with child patients. My dream job would be to be a children’s oncology nurse.”
Former Westbourne High School and Suffolk One pupil Millie said there were some “bizarre” moments throughout her studies, being reunited with those who saved her life. Both her tutor and her mentor had given her chemotherapy during her battle with Leukemia.
Driven by her positive memories of hospital, Millie, whose uncle is former Ipswich Town footballer Russell Osman, said she wanted to show her patients the same level of care and compassion as she was given as a tot.
“There is a lot more to nursing than just giving medicine and getting people home, “ said Millie, who has two siblings, Daisy, 24, and Harry, 20.
“When I started this degree I was shocked that not everyone was so concentrated on building good relationships with patients, so that’s something I want to do as a nurse, try to make hospital not as bad as it could be.”
Watching a child graduate is a special moment for any parent, but for Murray and Tracy Osman, the event in October will be even more emotional.
Murray said: “It makes me very proud.”
In March 1998, Millie’s story was on the front page of the Star.
Her family held a fundraising event in aid of a charity which had supported them throughout the ordeal.
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