A care professional from Home Instead Cleveland, is taking on the selfless duty of flying out to Turkey, supporting with the devastation caused by the earthquake.
Andrea Atwell, a care professional for home care company Home Instead Cleveland, is taking on the selfless duty of flying out to Turkey, supporting with the devastation caused by the earthquakes.
Andrea’s heartfelt need to help comes from the very heart of her journey to self-discovery. After 25 years working for a pharmaceutical company, she left the industry and started training in psychotherapy, hypnotherapy and counselling. She then went on a soul-searching pursuit where she found herself in the Aydin Province of Turkey. It was here where she started caring for a car crash victim and she had that lightbulb moment in life where she finally discovered her calling: the care sector.
When the pandemic hit, Andrea had to make the difficult choice of whether to stay in Turkey facing lockdown or return to the UK. Andrea returned to the UK where she was keen to continue in a caring role; it was then she found Home Instead Cleveland and has never looked back.
Andrea said: “I felt an overwhelming need to go back to Turkey and do everything I can to help in the face of such a devastating humanitarian crisis. In Turkey I have friends in need and communities in complete turmoil needing the help of every nation. My heart simply dictated that I had to go out there and play a part in the relief effort.
“I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the support and encouragement from my employers Home Instead Cleveland. Not only have they supported me in my wishes and granted me the three weeks leave in extremely short notice ensuring my clients are well cared for in my absence, but they have also made a considerable donation to my fundraising efforts.
“My brother Adrian and I heard a harrowing account from a friend in Turkey from the front line of a woman in the street waiting for news of her children, offering a stranger her car in exchange for a bottle of water. We heard another story of a man dying under rubble asking aid workers to cut off his hand as his daughter would not let go of him. These are just two tragic human stories of the many more heard.
“Our GoFundMe page is raising as much as possible and all donations go directly towards helping the people affected. Every contribution no matter how big or small makes the world of difference.”
Michelle Fairless at Home Instead Cleveland commented: “We are honoured to support one of our employees in such a remarkable selfless act of humanity. This highlights the character and caring nature of the people Home Instead chooses to become care professionals. We wish her and her brother well and we will be staying connected and hope they both stay safe. Our heartfelt thoughts are also with the people of Turkey and the families and communities affected by this disaster.
“Currently the death toll is over 47,000 people and still rising. So now we are reaching out to you, asking you to please, please give whatever you can to the fundraising pot; money that will enable my brother and I to purchase life-saving items in Turkey such as food, water, baby powder milk, baby food, sanitary and hygiene items, clothes, blankets, shelter, medical supplies and so much more.”
You can join in with supporting Andrea and Adrian’s mission by donating on the go fund me page: https://gofund.me/0df8be00
To find out more about Home Instead Cleveland and the home care services they provide, ranging from home help and companionship, to more specialist dementia and post-operation care, please call 01642 309650 or visit https://www.homeinstead.co.uk/cleveland/.