Mum: Nurse, Entrepreneur, Mentor

I've not shared this before. Disability transformed my Mum from nurse, to entrepreneur, and gifted me EQ and business accumen, to enable my success.

My Previous Article - How But Not Why

A very kind comment appeared on my recent article on the passing of Dr. Gordon Moore (Intel), which said, “I understand more about who you are and why”.

I didn’t expect the article to connect so deeply. It only explained how I gained technical skills as a kid. I've never actually shared the WHY, the vision and motivation behind what I do, or where it came from.

It all came from one person...

Mum's The Word

In case you've just realised, my last name is Nurse. My Mum, was a Nurse in the UK where I was born.

So, her team would frequently call out, “Nurse Nurse”, and she would reply, “I heard you the first time”. It was a frequent joke at home, and one that my daughter also carried into her nursing career.

Mum worked as a Registered Nurse, Theatre Nurse, District (Community) Nurse, and worked in a home for victims of domestic violence.

Mum also had a very quirky sense of humour, but that’s often the case with people who see the darkest aspects of life, isn’t it?

I'll Keep My Eye Out For You!

When I was eight, our school had a nature table, and we would bring pine cones and insects to place upon it, for the class to see. Mum gave me some moth eggs, she'd found in a wardrobe, which I placed on the nature table the next day.

One day, and I can’t explain why, other than her sense of humour, or perhaps to support my curiosity, she brought home an eyeball for me, in a jar. I know, you are probably asking who would do that? Right?

Or are you asking, what colour was it?

Blue!

Imagine, an eight year old running around with an eyeball, in a jar. I was delighted!

Now, it wasn’t Mum’s idea that this should take the winning prize on the nature table at school. No. That was 100% my idea!

Wow, my schoolmates loved it. But, the teachers didn’t “see” the funny side and I got interrogated about how I got it, and a good telling off for bringing it to school.

For ages afterwards, my mates would say, “I’ll keep my eye out for you” and we would literally crack ourselves up.

The Day Everything Changed

When I was eleven years old, Mum had an accident out on her community rounds, in the middle of Winter. Whilst walking in to visit one of her patients at their home, she slipped on some ice and broke her back on a curb stone.

That day was the last that she would ever work as a nurse.

Through my high-school years I was Mum’s carer, as Dad worked all hours, and my brother is two years younger.

Fast forward through years of medical procedures, long periods in a hospital bed on traction, and adjusting to a life with disability. Mum did eventually get back on her feet, and could walk short distances around the house.

Mum - The Entrepreneur

Unable to work, Mum taught herself to make jewellery, literally polishing (tumbling) gem stones, buying rings, ear-rings, pendants and the like in to which she would mount the gems.

She took me out with her to community centres where we’d sell the jewellery. I would meet all sorts of families whose loved ones had been through similar changes in their lives, just as we had.

Mum - Prepared Me For My First Job

My first real tech job, was working at a day centre for peope living with diverse disabilities, in Keighley, West Yorkshire.

During recruitment, at the group-style interview, it quickly became clear to everyone how relaxed and respectful I was as we were introduced to residents. Other candidates were self-conscious and anxious, as they didn't have the lived experience that I had been given.

In the job, I was tasked with writing and testing software to help people navigate social situations, such as how to read and interpret signs, like which toilet to go into. That is how I first learned how to do good with technology, and for the geeks, it was on Commodore 64.

I'd never have got there without the life that Mum shared with me.

Mum - Prepared Me For Any Emergency

Onwards through adulthood and a couple of years after I'd moved to Australia.

My step-son, from a now past relationship, wanted to take me out fishing with his friend. We jumped in his car, but his mate hadn't quite got in the back seat. My son unknowingly drove forward, going over his friend's foot.

My eyeball experience as a child had eliminated any sense of being squeamish, so acting on pure instinct I just got to work.

I had no formal first-aid training, and every second counts. I just had Mum in the front of my mind, and asked her what would she do. Seconds later I was tearing up t-shirts, bandaging, stabilising and carrying the guy into the car and then drove him to Royal Perth Hospital.

Later when I called home to the UK, Mum was so proud. We also laughed because, going to hospital with our family name always causes confusion and smiles.

Her Proudest and Funniest Moments

In 2014 I took the role of CIO at Telethon Kids Institute, a renowned child health research organisation. Again, Mum was so proud, and we laughed so hard when I told her that people were surprised that I knew so much about technology, because they thought Nurse was my job, not my name.

We literally cried laughing. The great Nurse joke had come back to me!

The Circle of Mum's Life

In 2015, Dad called me to say that Mum, who had been in hospital for a week, had acquired pneumonia and it didn't look good.

All of my colleagues at the Institute gathered around me, gave me a hug, and in the middle of a massive project, freed me up to go back to the UK to see Mum.

I flew to Sydney, to transit through international departures and whilst I was standing in the passport queue, Dad called me to say that Mum had just passed away. All I remember was, it felt so ironic, that the place where she had worked for many years (Bradford Royal Infirmary), and that was caring for her now, was the place where, as a patient, she had acquired the pneumonia that took her away from us.

It literally was life coming full circle, for Mum.

Thank goodness for video calls, as I had at least been able to see and speak to Mum during what were her final hours.

Thanks Mum

Mum, without you, I wouldn't be who I am. I wouldn't have had the opportunities that I have been gifted. I wouldn't be able to do the things I do. Other than through the life you gave me.

Thanks Mum!