Why I do what I do. 

 

My Father became acutely unwell when I was 17, resulting in him being quadriplegic. My hero went from being the best provider for our family, a man who still had me standing on his toes for a waltz, to being totally dependant on others, even to breath. I was in overwhelm. It was the day Australia won the America’s Cup. We almost lost Tony.

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Our whole lives changed, my Mum, my sister and I. He did not recover, he was left with severe disability but he was alive.

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After nearly two years in hospitals, Dad came home. Nursing homes were for the elderly, Dad was 52. Mum nursed him for 5 years before he passed away. He was 57, I was 25, married with a toddler. Those years in between were focused around family times, celebrating births, holidays, and anniversaries. Mum was a rock.

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This was the catalyst behind me becoming a nurse, where I wanted to give my clients and their families the care, compassion and hope around their complexities. I started my hospital based training in 1986 and went on to complete my Degree, and two post graduate certificates. I even embarked on a Masters program which is in itself a story that I divulge in my third book. 

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I believe nursing is a wonderful profession, with many opportunities and areas for personal growth. Through my career, I reflected and learned. I developed an innate resiliece in myself that I did not know that existed. ​I now recognise my parent’s innate resilience in myself.​ I now value each day with my own growing family, and have made this a priority over relationships, career and my own priorities.

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“Never mess with a Mumma Bear” (Jim Rohan.)

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I’m described by others as being “tenacious”, “goal focused” and “resilient”.

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I learned through those impressionable years, a strength of character that has taken me through my marriage difficulties, my health journey, my nursing career challenges, and learned how to love and trust another man wholeheartedly.

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I am not only a survivor, but thriving in a world full of commercialism and materialism. I love the natural, the simple and relish in the brilliance of each day we have here.

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I love the person I am. You can love the person you are, too.