Dubai: It was April 2007 when Charlotte*, 33, first started feeling tired and her skin began itching all over, as if a million ants were crawling up and down her entire body.
Complaining to her employer, she insisted that the office be fumigated, as she was sure there was an infestation of bugs in her room. After the fourth fumigation, and still feeling tired and experiencing sweating every night, Charlotte went to her doctor, thinking she had a run-of-the-mill virus.
Suspicious, her doctor sent her for a scan, and the wait for the results ended in a huge shock: Charlotte had five tumours growing on her spleen.
Tumours
"I was in a panic," Charlotte told Gulf News, "I didn't know what I was doing - I had five tumours on my spleen and I didn't know whether to go back to the UK for treatment."
"My oncologist spoke to me for half an hour on the phone and calmed me down, then booked me in for surgery within 12 days. The surgical team was fantastic and I was out of hospital after just three days."
"My company let me have five weeks off work - they were great. For those five weeks, I couldn't even really sit up in bed by myself," she said.
The oncologist had said to her before the surgery that there were three possible diagnoses for her condition: Hodgkin's Disease, Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma or sarcoidosis.
The test results were not good - Charlotte was diagnosed with sarcoidosis.
"I went back to work and then I got my biopsy results, and I found out what it was I had. Unfortunately both Hodgkin's and Non-Hodgkin's can be treated - but sarcoidosis can't, although it can be managed very effectively," Charlotte said.
Now, Charlotte has to inject herself with a chemotherapy drug once a week, takes drugs for osteoporosis that has resulted from her treatment, as well as steroids.
Despite her condition, Charlotte was offered a job with another company that she could not turn down - a high-profile position with law firm DLA Piper.
"I said 'I've got to stop you there - I'm ill, I'm on chemotherapy and it's going to affect me'," she said.
"And his [senior partner's] response when I said this, was 'so?' He said 'yes, we'll work with you, we'll work around it'."
Charlotte said she was encouraged to take her time. The firm also did not have a problem with her working from home on some days. "They've just been overly accommodating, and it doesn't often happen," she said.
Optimistic
"Everybody in the office has been absolutely fantastic and they accept that sometimes I can't push myself to do things, although this doesn't mean I'm not included." For instance, her colleagues invited her for ice-skating, she said.
But her medical issues remain. She currently has a number of growths - one each in her liver and pancreas, as well as one on the side of her neck and underarm. Charlotte's illness is being controlled, but despite the debilitating side-effects of her treatment, she is optimistic about her career.
"My career path hasn't been altered in any respect - in fact I've been pushed along my career path."
Charlotte said her company had led by example.
"I've not been discriminated against and I've not been victimised. I haven't changed, I'm just sick -that's it," she said.
Next month, Charlotte will fly to London to take part in a training course. While she cannot take short travel breaks, her training will be conducted over more than one week - meaning she has time to rest and continue with her life, managing her illness as she works.
Treatment: Debilitating condition
Sarcoidosis can affect any organ in the body. It is characterised by granulomas (lumps of cells, which can join, grow bigger and eventually affect organs), and is currently both unpreventable and incurable.
Charlotte's 'cocktail' of drugs involves swallowing a total of 14 tablets a day: at 9am for the first dose, at 3pm for the tablets to increase her energy, to the evening when she takes tablets for the fibromyalgia affecting her muscles.
The illness also creates migraines, which she counteracts with beta-blockers, and the chemotherapy injections are self-administered once a week. Charlotte now carries a pill box in her handbag, which is sectioned with every day of the week, and her mobile phone has several daily alarms set, to remind her what to take and when.
"It robs you of the ability to live your life, but also the ability to look in the mirror," Charlotte said. Due to the steroids she has to take, she has gained 11kg in six months.
"I went and had my eyebrows threaded at the beginning of the year, just after I'd started the chemotherapy, not even thinking about it, and they looked fabulous. They looked fabulous for two whole days, and then I was washing my face and all my eyebrows fell out onto the washcloth. The funny thing is I was annoyed that I'd paid the money to have them done," she said.
*Names have been changed and/or omitted to protect the identity of the interviewees, for personal and legal reasons. Charlotte wrote to Gulf News to share her experiences.
Have you heard of a similar case? Why are such practices rare in the corporate world? How important are such decisions in promoting loyalty among employees? Fill in the form bellow to send your comments.
Your comments
Our prayers are with you.
Sreekumar
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 21, 2008, 13:39
You are now part of my prayers. Be happy and keep inspiring others like me.
Sunetra
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 21, 2008, 13:39
I am so proud of you. You are really one of a kind. You made me realize that difficulties in life do not come to destroy us. Instead, they help us to realize our hidden potential and strength.
May God bless you.
Vhang
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 21, 2008, 13:36
I really appreciate the trouble you have taken in voicing your health issue to the public. It has been an eye-opener for each of us reading your story. You have been very brave and I applaud your company and colleagues for standing by your side during this difficult crisis. God bless and cure you soon and all that you ask the Lord in faith will be granted. Life is a learning curve and we end up learning something every day. You are in my prayers from now on.
Charlotte Gonsalvez
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: December 21, 2008, 13:22
I was touched by Charlotte's story, and this is good example for every employer.
Ethel
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 21, 2008, 13:21
My heart is with you Charlotte; I wish you a miraculous recovery.
What's great about this company is that not only they have decided to allow Charlotte to work despite her medical condition and made the commitment to support her all through, but it is the fact that they have done it out of good will.
Fadi Mukarker
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 21, 2008, 13:15
One can't help but admire the sheer grit and determination of this brave woman.
Prashant
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 21, 2008, 13:12
I have been diagnosed with Sarcoidosis last year and thankfully it is not in advanced stages yet, it would be nice if i can share experiences with Charlotte. I also have a friend who was working in a hotel and when she diagnosed with cancer, the hotel paid all her treatments for about three years, giving her salary even if she worked only a few days each month, sometimes not even. Last year though she decided to go home to India with her husband to reside there permanently.
Leonora Dungao
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 21, 2008, 11:28
It is really a great effort from both Charlotte as well the company. My best wishes to her.
Nagarajan
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 21, 2008, 11:14
I really think that you are such a brave person. Dont let go. Hang in there. Wishes from my heart to you.
Aasim
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 21, 2008, 11:13
This woman really has the spirit and she will lead by example.
Omkumar
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 21, 2008, 10:17
Be strong Charlatte. You are no lesser than anyone in good health. We will all remember you in our prayers
Shiham
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: December 21, 2008, 10:15
This is a beautiful story for many reasons. The first being the power of determination. Charlotte has not given up and that is deeply commendable. Another reason being the understanding of both employers. The kindness extended to her during her trials leaves me smiling. The third reason being that the media usually only reports negative stories, and this one is not. I applaud Gulf News for printing this story.
Anna
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 21, 2008, 09:53
This is an absolute true example of life, when given all oppurtunity to do things in life, but life is a constraint itself.
Prajakta
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: December 21, 2008, 09:48
May God take away this illness from you. God Bless.
Erfan Nathaniel
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 21, 2008, 09:40
It is great to know that so much of compassion and care has been shown to an employee by her firm. I believe employees can be made far better in their perfomance by motivating and generating confidence in them.
Manikantan Sasankan
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: December 21, 2008, 09:26
Charlotte, you are one brave woman and an inspiration to many. Living positively is the way to go in this life and not letting the illness become an obstacle in this case. Your faith has moved you to higher heights and it will see you through your healing for you have what it takes to believe that you can be healed. May God be with you.
Patricia
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 21, 2008, 09:10
I truly belive that it has taken alot of courage to face the whole fact and just move ahead as though nothing happened.
Chaya
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 21, 2008, 08:23
I was really sorry to hear about her illness but she was really brave enough to face it .I really appreciate the company and ofcourse all the collegues who gave her the immense help.
nazneen khan
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: December 21, 2008, 07:49
Proud of you Charlotte and
people should learn from you.
Abdul Mannan
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: December 21, 2008, 07:37
I was very touched by Charlotte's experience. Her determination and confidence is something many of us need to absorb.
Sanju Joy
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 21, 2008, 07:01
This world is still worth loving in.
Manjeet
Toronto,Canada
Posted: December 21, 2008, 03:11
