Please help me to help other women

Hello everyone! Thank you for your interest in my fundraiser.

I am Ellen Matheson. I'm a single Mama with an empty nest, a 5-year breast cancer survivor, and Functional Wellness Practitioner working with women recovering from cancer.

I have been accepted to The University of Stirling in Scotland and awarded a Postgraduate International Excellence Scholarship to study a Master of Science degree program in Psychology, leading to a doctorate in Health Psychology, beginning in September 2023.

Why study abroad? 
I have always wanted to study psychology, and I have always dreamed of living in another country. Only recently did it occur to me that I could pursue both at once! Studying abroad at this time will be an incredible opportunity for realizing these dreams while stimulating personal and professional growth.

With a 24-year history as a Medical Massage Therapist and 10 years as a Clinical Nutritionist (MSc Applied Clinical Nutrition), I know a lot about caring for the human body yet I lack the theoretical knowledge or practical experience to care for the human mind. I want to combine my expertise in Functional Nutrition with various theories and practices of Clinical Psychology to explore effective adjunctive care protocols for people with cancer and other serious conditions. Research has proven that the clinical application of each of these disciplines, independent of the other, produces effective results in the healing process for people with serious illnesses. I want to explore the effects of combining personalized, targeted nutrition supporting immunity, brain function and mood with psychotherapeutic practices at the point of, or close to, diagnosis as a means for reducing the systemic effects of trauma, improving patient resiliency and survival, and advancing overall public health. The MSc in Psychology will provide a necessary and solid foundation for these future explorations.

In April 2021 I created an online support group for women in the USA who, like myself, completed cancer treatment but continued to experience lingering physical and emotional symptoms. This community now has almost 900 members and provides a safe and private place for participants to share their cancer-related experiences with absolute honesty and candor, receive peer love and support, and learn strategies for preventing recurrence. Moderating this group has made me aware of the huge gaps in the standard of care for people with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. So many members express symptoms that seem to be related to post-traumatic stress, yet very few have been referred for psychological assessment or support. I intend to help change this. Receiving a cancer diagnosis can be a tremendously traumatic experience. The difficulties and uncertainties that come with with surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation, or other treatments further compound that trauma, and living with this snowballing fear, anxiety, or depression can significantly delay or inhibit complete recovery.

Additionally, I am frustrated by the various systemic inequities and shortcomings of the American “system”, especially the largely for-profit healthcare system where access to timely, affordable, and effective treatment is usually dependent on ability to pay. I find this approach shortsighted and irresponsible, so I am very curious to learn how Scotland’s National Health Service succeeds in caring for its patients with serious illnesses.

Why Scotland? My “pandemic sanity project” was to explore the Scottish heritage of my father’s family. I’ve traced my Matheson great-grandfathers back to the Isle of Skye in the mid-1700s, at which time and place the genealogy trail goes cold. My great-grandmothers’ lines, beginning with Annie Yeoman, my first great-grandmother who was born in Aberdeen in 1877 and emigrated to North America in 1888, go back many generations to Aberdeenshire in the 1500s, probably earlier. It’s so exciting for me to have the opportunity to live and study in the land of my Scottish predecessors. I am the first woman in my direct lineage to receive a college education, and by studying in Scotland. My ancestral Scottish great-grandmothers were denied a formal education based solely on gender. With a degree from the University of Stirling, I will become the first woman of my lineage to receive a degree from a Scottish university! I view this as a great honor and responsibility.

The University of Stirling ranks highly in the UK for postgraduate student satisfaction with the quality of education, campus facilities, and diverse student mix with over 100 different countries represented on campus. The university is also a global leader in innovative research that strives to enhance the quality of life for people and support and advance the sustainability of life on planet Earth. I can't wait to be part of this vibrant community of scholars!

How the money you donate will be used:

All fees listed below are converted from British Pound Sterling and are subject to the current exchange rate. Each of these expenses must be paid in full over the next few weeks.

-------------

Estimated funds needed by early June: $ 4,960.00

Personal health challenges and global events of the past 5 years knocked me off-center and completely depleted my savings. My tuition at Stirling is being paid for with the International Excellence Scholarship and US Federal Student Loans. My monthly living expenses (rent in a student flat, food, local transposrtation, etc.) will be paid for with the rental income I collect for my townhouse in the USA.

If you can help me with these up-front fees, I will be most appreciative. Please do what you can to help me help women who had cancer.

Thank you!