A mental health counsellor from the Swansea Valley has published her first collection of poetry, drawing on a life shaped by cancer, limb loss and recovery.
Tammy Allen’s debut collection, Roots, explores resilience, healing and personal growth through a series of honest, illustrated poems.
Tammy was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer, at the age of 18.
After years of treatment and numerous surgeries, she underwent a leg amputation at 40.
She says writing became an essential part of how she processed and came to terms with those experiences.
“Writing poetry has helped me process, heal and grow from difficult life experiences,” she said.
“At first, I felt vulnerable sharing such personal experiences, but I now hope my words will help others feel less alone and encourage them to keep going through their own challenges.”
The collection draws on both her own journey and her professional work as a counsellor, giving voice to the kind of trauma that often goes unspoken.
Rather than dwelling on blame or despair, the poems focus on the strength that can be found in vulnerability, and on facing emotional pain in order to move through it.
Alongside her counselling work, Tammy is also passionate about supporting amputees, helping people adjust and rebuild their confidence after limb loss.
Through Roots, she hopes readers will reconnect with their own stories, recognise their own resilience, and feel more able to talk openly about mental health and recovery.
The collection, she says, is a reminder that growth and hope remain possible even after life’s hardest moments.
Each poem in the book is accompanied by an illustration, intended to capture the emotion behind the words.
Roots is published by The Conrad Press and is available from Amazon and bookshops.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this story, the Samaritans can be contacted free on 116 123, at any time.
