“The support from the Fund has given me my spark back”

After a spinal tumour left her with limited mobility, RAF veteran Yvonne felt like a prisoner in her own home. Now, thanks to the RAF Benevolent Fund’s welfare support, Yvonne has had access to physical and emotional assistance and is able to live a fulfilling life once more.

Yvonne Jevons, from Loanhead, Midlothian, joined the RAF at 21 years old and worked as an Electronics Technician on fighter aircraft. After six years of service, in 1990 Yvonne left the air force to marry and start a family.

The rest of Yvonne’s career spanned over 25 years and included working within the NHS whilst working part-time as a complementary therapist. Yvonne taught reflexology, aromatherapy, and healing at adult education classes for a few years. She went on to study a variety of therapies to help clients who had experienced traumas.

In 2015, she took the plunge and became self-employed providing complementary therapies for clients. 

Sadly, this came to an abrupt halt in late 2017 when Yvonne was diagnosed with a spinal tumour following a period of severe backpain and loss of feeling in her body.

Yvonne said: “I hit rock bottom after the tumour diagnosis. It was an eight-and-a-half-hour surgery to remove all traces of the tumour and I was left with nerve damage, daily pain and restricted movement and mobility. I was so depressed. If I do too much, I lose feeling in my arms, hands and right leg. I had to give up my practice and life was rather bleak for a long time.”

The RAF Benevolent Fund stepped in by arranging an occupational therapist to visit Yvonne while she recovered, which resulted in the Fund providing a reclining armchair and a bath aid.

Yvonne was struggling with the steps leading up to her house and was having falls constantly. Yvonne said: “I’ve cracked my ribs and sternum, clattered my knees, and hurt my back having falls outside. I didn’t feel safe going out; I became a bit of a recluse and life was not what I imagined. The Fund provided me with a new path, a driveway, and an excellent outdoor walker – and I haven’t had many falls since.”

She continued: “I’m very grateful for the walker. It has been totally life changing and means I can go with my six-year-old grandson to the park to feed the ducks again and meet up with my sister or friends for lovely walks.

“I’m completely stable because the walker has chunky pneumatic tyres and the front wheel has suspension, so it is easy to manoeuvre and does not send judders up my arms to my back, which was the issue with other walkers. When my legs or my back get sore, I can have a sit down. It’s helped me rejoin humanity and given me the confidence to go out more.”

Another positive of having the walker is that Yvonne has been able to explore a long-held passion for photography. She said: “I have always loved photography, but I couldn’t carry a camera bag due to my back pain. With the walker, I can mount the camera on the frame if I want to, or I can sit down and lean my arms on the frame to support me whilst using the camera. It’s brilliant.”

But whilst attending a photography course in 2023, Yvonne was hit with the difficult news that her mother had passed away.

Thanks to the welfare support from the Fund, Yvonne was referred for 12 weeks of counselling arranged by the Fund to help her come to terms with her bereavement.

Having worked in complementary therapies, Yvonne understands the value of seeking help. She said: “After my mum died it was really tough; my mum was my best friend.

“I’m beyond grateful to have had access to the Fund’s listening and counselling service; it’s really helped me. I still have tearful days, but it’s helped me to get my head straight and share the stuff that’s troubling me with somebody who is completely neutral. I know how important it is to deal with the things you’re going through and not let them gather momentum.”

Yvonne concluded: “I’m finally getting to a place again where I’ve got some enthusiasm for life. I think that’s the most important part about the support from the Fund – from a place of feeling totally overwhelmed and vulnerable, it’s helped give me my spark back.”