Business Fit Magazine Special Editions Mother & Daughter Special Edition | Page 42

procedure, but I just knew it wasn’t going to be
good!
exacerbated causes loss of feeling and normal
function on that side of my body.
What would you say are your
strengths?
Unfortunately, the only medication available to
deal with this condition caused me to bleed for
19 months, so with no respite from the pain it is
a truly debilitating condition
I just have an overall love and passion for dance
and when I care about something or someone, I
really care.
At worst it affects cognitive function, memory, my
ability to speak, swallow, stand and walk.
If you could be anyone, alive or
dead, who would it be and why?
Myself, I love who I am and who I’m becoming. I
wouldn’t want to be anyone else even if I could
be
What are
dreams?
your
hopes
I have had extremely myopic eyesight since a
young child, so I’ve worn glasses or contacts from
the moment I woke until bed to correct my sight
my whole life. However, the level of correction
that is needed causes debilitating pain in my eye
and triggers exacerbations so it was only when I
got ill, I truly experienced what it is like having to
live as a partially sighted person.
and
Well it’s less of a dream or hope it’s more like
my plan. I want to get my PhD in dance and
choreography, dance professionally then finally
open my dance studio when I’m a bit older.
What would your message be to
other teenage girls?
Follow your heart and your gut. Your body is a
powerful organism. It knows what to do to keep
you healthy and alive. Trust what it’s telling you
and what you feel to do is right. Do what you love
and enjoy doing it. Don’t let other people lead
you astray from what you love based on their
opinions of it. Ultimately years from now, it isn’t
them who will be stuck doing something they
don’t love, it’s you who will be thinking "I wish I
had followed my heart". People are going to hate
and judge what you do regardless of what it is.
Just do you.

Her support in my
passion for dance
helps us stay close
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Tell us about your relationship
with Chyna
Sophia
Who are you? Tell us about
yourself.
I love singing, music, and bass guitar. I love
my family. I’m wife to Wayne and mum to four
beautiful girls and two grandchildren. I am a
qualified Electromechanical Technician, College
Lecturer and Life Coach. I am Co-Founder of
Paradigm Pure Health, Health and Happiness
Coach and Relationship Workshop Facilitator.
I’ve been medically retired twice, first following a
neck injury on site at age 28 and later at 40 when
I became ill suddenly.
Tell us about your medical
condition and how it affects
your life?
The diagnosis is Chronic Paroxysmal Hemicrania,
or Hemicrania Continua depending on which of
my neurologists you speak to, but long names
aside it is excruciating pain throughout my left
side, eye, face, head, neck and arm, which when
Chyna has been the one who instinctively knew
how to support me. One of the challenges of
my condition was learning to live as a partially
sighted person. She would be at my car door
with her shoulder poised and rest my hand on
it, so she could guide me. Even two years later,
everyone else had yet to get to grips with the
fact that my sight was so limited that I needed
support navigating every step once outside of
our home. Chyna somehow sensed what was
required, she was 11 then and is 15 now.
It's hard to describe the appreciation I feel for
her intuition, awareness and sensitive care as I
transitioned into life as a partially sighted person,
she has been like a guardian angel.
What was your reaction to
Chyna’s dream, especially as
you hadn’t told her about the
planned operation?
I was scared, I had already had severe injury from
medication I was prescribed, and I already wasn’t
much help to anyone but I was there. I wasn’t
going to take any risks about not being there.
How do you manage your
business with your condition?
With lots of support and flexibility. There are lots
of practical things I need to consider, like I have
a VERY large PC Monitor and use pinhole glasses
on days I want to use it, but use my phone for
most things because I can get my eye close
enough to the screen to see it. I listen to my body
or I suffer for it, I have someone else deal with
things that I find stressful, often by exchanging
services. I don’t over stretch myself and I’m
fortunate it’s a family business, so I get to do the
parts that are comfortable for me and there is
always someone to take up the slack if I’m not
functional for a while.
What would you like to say about
your daughter?
Chyna is beautiful, talented and passionate with
wisdom and insight way beyond her years and
she makes people smile without even trying.
Any additional information you
would like to share with our
readers?
I’d say that a disability or long-term health
condition doesn’t need to limit you being you. It
will definitely require changes in mindset, maybe
even acceptance of things you can longer do in
the way you would have previously, I certainly
can’t repair lifts anymore, or teach electrical
installations, but in my case, it has been a gift.
I would never have considered starting my
company if this hadn’t happened. I still get to
consider and help resolve issues with systems,
albeit bodies these days instead of in buildings
and I’m still teaching, supporting and coaching,
it’s just in a completely different arena.
When I had my eldest, I worked six days a week
while also studying, and we both missed out on
so much because of time constraints and having
to be at a particular location, for particular hours.
So, I think the most precious gift of this condition
is that I am now available for my daughters, and
grandchildren and it’s a beautiful feeling.
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