Because They Were There: My Brain Haemorrhage Survival Story
Many heartbreaking stories about ambulance waiting times and people dying before help can arrive are often in the media these days. There are many reasons for the delays. Here are just a few. If you find that hard to believe, check out You Called an Ambulance for What? by Tim Booth, based on his own […]
Depo-Provera Side Effects and Informed Consent: My Personal Story
For years, Depo-Provera has been widely prescribed as a contraceptive, but many women were never fully told what to expect. It is only in recent years that I discovered there have been widespread concerns about Depo-Provera. Some studies have linked it to an increased risk of developing meningioma, a type of brain tumour. The Disability […]
Broken Bones, Frozen Shoulders, and Learning to Ask for Help
This week I’ve been reflecting on injuries — the kind you collect over a lifetime, and the ones that never quite let you forget them. The reason for my reflection relates to a fall I had a few weeks ago. I landed hard on my left breast onto the footpath. I was hurrying home because […]
Vision Loss Awareness Training at Leisurelink Waurn Ponds Inspires Aquafit Coaches
As a Vision Loss Awareness Trainer for Blind Sports and Recreation Victoria (BSRV), I have the privilege of meeting lots of amazing people through my work delivering vision loss awareness training programs across Victoria. My latest training session took place at Leisurelink Aquatic and Recreation Centre, where I was welcomed by a vibrant group of […]
Hot days, proteas and driving without a license – Part 2
One hot Saturday afternoon in a late October, Dad wanted to go to Bunnings to buy a protea. He loved those plants, and I wanted to do everything I could to give him some joy in his last few weeks on earth. So, it was up to me to take him because Mum had an […]
Hot days, proteas and driving without a license – Part 1
One of my favourite podcasts is the Blindboy Podcast. The episode titled ‘Crying and Shame and Underpants’, 23rd November, 2022 brought back painful memories that I had buried decades ago. When Blindboy shared the story of his father dying from cancer and the realities of watching someone succumb to that sinister disease, it reminded me […]
A Walk in the Park – Westgate Park (Birding by Ear)
Recently an exciting opportunity landed in my lap – an invitation to lead a park sensory walk. As someone who cherishes the tranquillity of park strolls and embraces every chance that comes my way (well, most of them), I eagerly accepted. The focus of this adventure aptly named ‘Birding by Ear” was to learn, listen […]
So you went to hospital for back pain
‘So you went to hospital for back pain’, he said in a condescending voice. Sentence. Not question. I knew he was annoyed as soon as he opened his mouth because he hadn’t fixed my damn back. That was the response from my physiotherapist after six weeks of excruciating, relentless back pain. During that time, I […]
I had the jab today
Unfortunately, not the one that’s on everyone’s lips and in the upper arm of a few others. I had the jab for osteoporosis, aka The Big O. I say unfortunately because I never thought I’d eventually have osteoporosis when I was diagnosed with osteopenia. That’s a fancy name for low bone density. But what’s not […]
I’ll be sticking my arm out for the jab when it’s my turn
Everyone’s carrying on about the Covid-19 vaccine roll out being delayed. Only because the Prime Minister, Scott Morrison promised that four million Australians would be vaccinated by the end of this month (March 2021). And by the end of October this year everyone who wants to have the vaccination will have had the jab. If […]