“The farm’s been in the family for about five generations, so it’s my turn now.
I’m Sue, and I’m a sheep farmer from South Wales. I’m 76, and I don’t feel my age at all. In fact, I feel younger now than I did at 58 when I retired and became the sheep farmer.
It is a bit daunting. There’s a lot of physical work – carting bales around and things like that. Lambing’s hard work. But at the end of lambing, you’ve got 200 odd lambs running around the fields. It’s so enjoyable and fulfilling. It’s not hard work if you really enjoy it, is it?”
Sue’s experience with cancer and seeking support from AXA Health
“Being healthy is the most important thing, especially if you’re farming – you need your health. At 76, ageing is really very important to me. It’s important that I keep active, and I’ve been very lucky with my life as well, but you never know what’s around the corner, do you?
In 2020, I had a small lump on my breast, which was diagnosed as breast cancer. That was a really thought-provoking thing to happen. But what was really good was from the time that I found the lump to the time I got the radiotherapy over with, was only a matter of weeks.
When I rang AXA Health insurance, I literally was seen within two days. I felt the lump on the Friday, went straight into hospital Monday, and they operated on Wednesday – so I didn’t have to go through a prolonged time living with cancer. And five years on now, all the results have been fine. It’s a wonderful feeling.”
How using her membership helped Sue overcome a shoulder injury
“Then sometime around 2022-23, I had a bit of an accident getting the boat in off the water and pulled the ligaments in my shoulder. The pain was quite intolerable really – it keeps you awake, and it’s just a dull ache all the time. So again, I rang AXA Health insurance and saw the consultant on a Wednesday, I think it was, and he operated the following week.
I went in, had the operation, and I was only in overnight – out the next morning. Reverse shoulder replacement. Absolutely brilliant. Then straight onto physio, which is really important because if you don’t do the right exercises, you don’t get your shoulder back. My shoulder now is completely mobile – perfect. It’s better than the other one!”
The importance of Sue’s health to her love of farming
“Not being able to do the things around the farm would be very difficult for long periods. Both times, it was just a matter of weeks rather than months before I was back on my feet and carrying on as normal.
Farmers never retire. They hang up their boots sometimes, but it’s not for long. They get a breath of fresh air inside their lungs again, and they’re off. No, you don’t really retire as a farmer if you’re lucky.”
This is Sue’s experience, but each claim experience can vary depending on availability, location and cover chosen.
