Getting To The Heart Of The Mater

We all face trials and tribulations throughout our lifetimes, burdens that can, at times, feel far too difficult to bear.

Such heavy burdens will often make us stronger, of course, and help us face whatever challenges life suddenly throws in our path.

Just ask Greystones’ Shoshanna Hayden. She’s married to Paul Hayden. 

Nothing scares this woman.

Still, staying in The Mater Hospital over the past two weeks, sharing a ward with three other women, Shoshanna (was the priest drunk at that baptism?) was reminded of just how vulnerable we all are. And how, by pulling together, just how powerful we can be.

Over to Shoshanna…

I have spent the majority of the last two weeks in the Mater after two back surgeries and had what I can only describe as a very humble experience.

The time was spent with two mastectomy patients and one young lady with ovarian cancer, all getting last minute surgeries to remove the cancer from their bodies.

They were strong women, I will give them that, and when they had ‘moments’, we all talked together, giving each other any support that was needed.

I found myself with each of them after their surgeries helping with their bouts of sickness, calling nurses when needed – we all have nursing bells, of course, but try finding that bugger in the middle of the night hooked up to drips, with fresh stitches and a constant case of the dizzy spells.

We all described it as a big girls sleepover, which made us laugh as we all struggled through the last few days.

I really felt that I was supposed to be there this week with those women. We have all shared our contacts, and have been texting each other daily, with progress reports on each continued journey to recovery.

I got home today, and for those women – and all of our other vulnerable people in society – PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE keep your distance from one another. I know it’s hard, but they are looking death in the face – have you even had that feeling?

Please just stay in or keep the necessary distance.

You can find out more about the battle against Covid-19 – and the local response – here.