{Girl Crush Tuesday} The fabulous Mia Freedman

Posted in Girl Power by centralwestnest

We have some pretty hard girl crushes. These are the types of ladies that stamp their style on the world. They are the type of people that will always be remembered and little girls grow up wanting to be. They are women of substance. Women that make the world a better place. Happy Girl Crush Tuesday everybody.

Today we salute Mia Freedman. Mia is a fabulously strong woman who uses her voice through many avenues. She is an editor, writer, author and blogger. She was even the youngest ever editor of Australian Cosmopolitan at the age of 24!

What we love about Mia is that she isn’t afraid to go against the norm and give her opinion regardless of the consequences. She stands by her strong opinions and isn’t naïve enough to believe that everyone will agree with her but instead supports the right of free speech.

If you are a parent with internet access you will have no doubt come across Mia’s websites, Ivillage and Mamamia. These sites are read by thousands and thousands of people every single day. She gives a voice and advice to many who don’t know where to go.

Mia isn’t afraid of standing out from the crowd and uses this power to push many causes close to her heart. These include encouraging women to embrace their bodies and giving support to those who have experienced stillborn births and miscarriages.

Mia has been very open about her own experiences with mental illness and in particular living everyday with anxiety. Brave women like Mia who use their positions to talk more openly about these issues increase awareness and acceptance for even more members of the community.

Mia might not be everyone’s cup of tea but to others she is certainly their glass of champagne.

Thanks Mia for showing our little girls not to be afraid of using their voices loudly and proudly and for teaching them that through hard work and a little perseverance anything is possible.

Images: HeraldSun – Domain – B&T – Mamamia

13Feb2014

{Inspirational} What is behind the red dress? One woman’s brave choice to share her body’s story

Posted in The nest health by centralwestnest

Some woman are brave and do things that really makes me admire them. This is one such example:

A Brisbane woman who posted candid images of her post-cancer surgery body online was horrified when more than 100 people “unfriended” her because they deemed the pictures “offensive”.

Beth Whaanga was diagnosed with cancer on her 32nd birthday last year and underwent a double mastectomy and a hysterectomy.

Her various surgeries have left her body scarred but she was determined not to be ashamed so asked her friend Nadia Masot, a photographer, to capture her new figure in a series of portraits.

Beth was thrilled with the images and shared them on Facebook but was horrified when more than 100 people immediately “unfriended” her, saying the pictures were obscene and disgusting.

“These pictures are in no way pornographic,” Beth’s sister Emma Rayner said. “They represent the truth about cancer and what measures some women will need to take to survive.

“I think it’s brave that she can show her scars and I think many more women will hopefully check their own bodies every now and then.”

You can read more here -> News.com.au

The Central Nest sends good health to this very brave lady

13Jan2014

{This is life} At 33 she CHOSE to have a full hysterectomy

Posted in This is life by centralwestnest

A little while ago I met a beautiful little girl. She was friendly, courteous and very charismatic. She had a mop of flame coloured hair and immediately stole my heart. Her mother has many of the same characteristics and just happens to be one of the bravest people I have ever met. She made a decision that I am not sure I could ever make.

At 33 she CHOSE to have a full hysterectomy.

She chose not to have any more children. It was a choice she made to take the chance to live pain free.

While you and I take for granted our everyday existence without the reliance of strong medication and therapy, Annette doesn’t. She lives a life of pain, operations and ongoing pills.

This story starts with a young carefree teenager. Just your girl next door who loved life. She was 15 when she first started experiencing terrible pain in her abdomen.

At 18 she was diagnosed with endometriosis. As a second kick she discovered she also had adenomyosis. The two of these only occur in about 10% of cases. They can show no symptoms in some patients but in others, like Annette they create ongoing debilitating pain.

Annette and her sweetheart married and decided to try to have a baby. Luckily they fell pregnant quickly (after only the second month) and she experienced a fairly normal pregnancy.

Little Charlotte was born eight days late following a 36 hour labour and a 3.30am emergency caesarean.

Annette recovered and believed that the pregnancy possibly cured her endometriosis and adenomyosis.

Unfortunately that was not the case.

Two years later her life came crashing down again. Annette experienced post natal depression. She describes the first six months of Charlotte’s life as ‘groundhog day’ over and over and over. She desperately wanted to her life back but couldn’t bear to let anyone else care for her new little girl. Guilt, desperation and resentment consumed her.

She fought through and finally one day woke up with a new lease on life.

Not long after, the stomach pains returned. She had adhesions in her uterus. The doctors told her the only option she had was a full hysterectomy. She was 33.

No more children. No little brother or sister for her darling Charlotte.

Following the major surgery she experienced horrific pain. For six weeks she was unable to move. She had to sit in the shower. Her blood pressure was out of control, even causing her to pass out.

A little while later she experienced a brief reprise from her pain. It was bliss. She could play with young Charlotte.

Then the pain came back 10 fold. Neuromas and nerve tumours overtook her body. The pain was excruciating.

Annette is on a disability pension because she is unable to work due to the heavy load of medications that she is on. Every single day.

Some days are so bad she is unable to go to the toilet unassisted due to the spasms.

Her mother takes care of her. Her husband takes care of her. Her daughter takes care of her.

Annette fights an up-hill battle every day to try and find a way to live without dependence on endone.

Annette says she doesn’t regret the surgery but does wish it had been more effective. She says without the support of her family and in particular her husband, she wouldn’t be able to survive.

What does worry her is that her mother had a hysterectomy at 38 years old. Is this a hereditary problem that has passed to little Charlotte? Only time (and prayers) will tell.

Annette, you are strong and brave and the Central Nest sincerely thanks you for sharing your incredible story with us.