Tag Archives: Kindness

So excited I’ve got SHIVERS!

22 Nov

What a week it’s been!

I’ve seen a Rheumatologist to try and get on top of this bone pain.  Cortisone injections, and all manner of other medications….Exhausted just thinking about when to take what.  I guess that’s just part of my life now.

I also caught up with a good friend who’s a journalist.  Happy to say she was enthralled with the whole concept of ‘Pink Polar’.  Knows a good story alright!

Then, a call to my dear friend at the McGrath Foundation, explaining the intention behind the Expedition. It was so wonderful to be so warmly received.  There are some incredibly special people working in this field and this lady is one of them:-)

Paul and I shared a truly memorable dinner with Geoff, his wife Sarah and children Jade, Java and Kitale.  What an amazing family!  I know I’ll write more on them in the future, but for now – my head and heart are full as a result of our time together.

A networking breakfast provided more inspiration from Steve ‘Ando’ Anderson (three-time Olympic Beach Volleyball Coach, Olympic Gold and Bronze Medal Coach) – who encouraged us all to ‘be deliberate’.  So, deliberate I was in telling him (and anyone else who’d care to listen) about this amazing project!!

The next buzz came from the McGrath Foundation – confirming interest in what we have proposed.  That’s a good thing!!  ’cause I know there are some organisations which would run a million miles from the ‘potential controversy’ a project like this could bring.  Surely they also realise our intention is good, that there are two dedicated souls involved and that my cancer experience could be used to assist in continuing Jane’s legacy (my goodness I feel presumptuous even thinking that let alone writing it – but I hope you understand what I mean).

Top off this week with a visit from Mr Hickson. Two old ‘media tarts’ (to borrow a phrase from former Qld Premier Peter Beattie [or Peety Betta as I once accidentally called him on air!]) having a good old fashioned catch up on the world.

Tired?  Yep.  Inspired? Yep. Determined? You have to ask?!!!

Tags: , ,

Escape…to Gwinganna.

26 Apr
I’ve been dreading doing the whole ‘this time last year’ thing. I hope that in time the vivid recollections I’m currently able to make about my diagnosis (to the point of remembering the exact time, what I was wearing) will fade.
For now, I just wanted to get out of the house, away from the situation I found myself in this time 12 months ago.
An escape to a health retreat couldn’t have been more perfect if I’d deliberately set out to organise it. But I hadn’t you see.
In a lovely turn of events, I’ve been gifted a delightful weekend at Gwinganna, courtesy of a special woman who was at an event I spoke at last year.  You just never know who’s in the audience and what they might take from what you have to say. This lady who works at Gwinganna very kindly gifted me a stay at this magnificent retreat, saying ‘by  sharing your experience you will help others, I’m choosing to give something to you because I can.’ Wow……
Spectacular setting (within an hour from home), beautiful caring staff, incredible organic, healthy, nourishing food, clean fresh air, peace and quiet…a truly lovely way to take stock of how dramatically my life has changed in the past 12 months and to prepare for the next surgery.

Tags: , , , , , ,