Why Juin decided to make a difference

Juin Dobson donated to our most recent Christmas Appeal.

In 2020, at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Juin Dobson was told she required treatment for Barrett’s Oesophagus.

The then 87-year-old’s condition had reached the stage where it required treatment with a HALO radiofrequency ablation system.

She was given the choice of going to Melbourne for the procedure, but she did not want to travel interstate.

After talking in detail about her options with her doctor, Juin decided to undergo the treatments that were available to her locally.

While successful, Juin needed to undergo seven separate procedures over the course of 12 months.

A former nurse who trained at the Launceston General Hospital, she didn’t understand why she couldn’t access the best treatment here in Tasmania.

“I felt we needed to have the Halo machine here in Northern Tasmania,” she explained.

“It didn’t make sense to me that a hospital like the LGH didn’t have the best equipment, especially when we have excellent surgeons who are capable of these procedures.”

Juin has been associated with the Clifford Craig Foundation since its formation in 1992, and as a long-time supporter her experience served as one of the catalysts for the Foundation’s Christmas Appeal.

Making a personal donation to the appeal herself, Juin said she was thrilled the HALO was now available for Tasmanian patients in need of this life-saving equipment.

“I think it is a wonderful result, and I am just thankful that future patients will now have access to this machine without needing to travel to Melbourne,” she said.