PODCAST: On the Marie Curie Couch with Harriet Madeley
In the latest episode of On the Marie Curie Couch, bereavement expert Jason Davidson meets Harriet Madeley.
This month, Jason is joined by Harriet Madeley. Harriet is a writer, producer and performer for stage, screen and radio. During research for her 2019 play, The Colours, which was based on real stories of people living with terminal illness, Harriet was diagnosed with a potentially life-limiting illness herself. Her new play, Outpatient, which debuts this August at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, is based on her own experience of this time. In this episode, Harriet talks about her illness, the death of her friend, and how storytelling can help with grief.
Content note: discussion of death and grief with reference to themes/topics that might be triggering or upsetting.
Living with uncertainty
I have no idea of the prognosis for me. Just four days ago I was in hospital. I felt all these old reactions coming back, of shutting down to people and, I guess, that fear coming back. I think it's fear of losing everything that I have but also losing the things I haven't had yet, all those future experiences. I've got a four month old baby now and the idea of all of the future that I'm hoping for being taken is difficult.
The death of a friend at a young age
My best friend died during the pandemic very suddenly. She had a five month old baby. I think I didn't absorb it really for almost a year. I've only really started to miss her. I didn't really allow myself to miss her because that would be too painful. I wouldn't say that I'm more okay with it than I was four years ago. Perhaps I need to stop looking to try to be okay.
I find myself wanting to package up what's happened into a story. Once that's done, the hope is you can have it there. You can have that story, process it and move on. But you never fully move on from grief, it lives with you throughout your life.
Listen now
Tap the link near the top of this page to listen to Harriet's chat with Jason. Alternatively, listen to or download it via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you'd prefer, you can read a full transcript of the episode.
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If you need support with bereavement or grief, call the Marie Curie Support Line on 0800 090 2309 or visit mariecurie.org.uk/support
