Health · Mental Health · 1 day ago
Geelong dialysis patient uses cartoons to support staff and patients
Rob Lymer, a 68-year-old grandfather from Belmont near Geelong, has chronic kidney disease and terminal lung cancer that has spread to other organs.
He was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2014 and began dialysis two years ago.
Dialysis uses a machine to clean the blood when the kidneys fail.
Lymer’s witty and thoughtful cartoons decorate the walls of Barwon Health’s home dialysis unit near Geelong Hospital, where he has been a patient.
He used to email a cartoon to nurses each week and is now back receiving dialysis at the clinic.
Patients and staff say the drawings bring humour and help people feel understood during difficult times.
His 2027 cartoon calendar is on sale to raise money for the centre.
Rob Lymer, a 68-year-old dialysis patient in Geelong, draws cartoons that bring humour and support to staff and other patients.
His cartoons decorate the walls of Barwon Health’s home dialysis unit, and his second annual calendar is being sold to raise money for the centre.
Lymer started dialysis two years ago and now receives it at the clinic while also coping with terminal cancer.
He used to email nurses a cartoon each week, a series he called “Friday Funnies”.
Fellow patient Max Bradfield says the cartoons help him feel included and understood.
- Who
- Rob Lymer, a 68-year-old dialysis patient and cartoonist, supports staff and patients. Fellow patient Max Bradfield also describes the cartoons’ effect on him.
- What
- Lymer creates cartoons that bring humour and support to people at the dialysis unit. His 2027 calendar is being sold to raise money for the centre.
- When
- Lymer has been a patient of the unit for two years. He was told three months ago that he had terminal lung cancer.
- Where
- Barwon Health’s home dialysis unit in Geelong, near Geelong Hospital.
- Why
- Lymer’s cartoons bring smiles and connect with people facing difficult situations. He also created a calendar to raise money for the centre.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Lymer was diagnosed with bladder cancer.
Lymer started dialysis.
Lymer conducted dialysis at home overnight for eight hours, five times a week, for a year.
Lymer was told he had terminal lung cancer that had spread to other organs.
Lymer is back receiving dialysis at the clinic.
- Age
- 68
- Dialysis provider
- Barwon Health’s home dialysis unit, Geelong
- Dialysis at home
- Eight hours overnight, five times a week, for a year
- Calendar
- Second annual calendar, with proceeds raising money for the centre
- Fellow patient
- Max Bradfield, 75, of Ocean Grove
What people are saying
just so generous
give me a feeling of inclusion, that someone else understands the ups and downs, I guess, of working your way through it all.
Well done, you’re helping me, very much, and keep up the good work.
Friday Funnies
Sources
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