When we think about chronic illness, most of us focus on the physical symptoms—pain, fatigue, and discomfort. But there’s a powerful, less obvious factor at play: your brain. Neuroscience shows us that the brain and body are in constant conversation, and when you’re living with...

Planning a holiday should be exciting, but if you have a chronic illness, there’s often a bit more to think about. While the thrill of getting away is real, keeping yourself safe and healthy on your travels is just as important.

You don’t want to find yourself stuck overseas, needing...

For years, I’ve carefully balanced two distinct worlds. One is my personal life with congenital heart disease (CHD), navigating countless medical appointments, surgeries, and the daily realities of living with a chronic condition. The other is my professional world, focused on policy,...

When people ask why I’m travelling 10,000 miles to give a 12-minute talk in the United States, my answer is simple: it’s about the importance of lived experiences and mental health. These aren’t just buzzwords; they’re the heartbeat of everything I do. As someone who has...

Travelling long distances can be challenging, especially when you’re dealing with a chronic illness. As I prepare for my upcoming trip from Australia to the USA, I’ve put a lot of thought into what I’ll need to stay comfortable, healthy, and organised. Here’s what...

In exactly a fortnight, I’ll be heading to the USA for two significant speaking engagements. First, I’ll be presenting at the Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Outcome Collaborative (CNOC) in St. Louis, Missouri, an event that brings together experts, researchers, and advocates dedicated to...

I’m beyond thrilled to announce that my book, "Your Ultimate Surgery Success Guide," is officially launched in paperback on Amazon and available worldwide!

This book isn’t just another surgery handbook—it’s a lifeline for anyone facing surgery, packed with everything I...

The short version of this blog is that I made it through the 14km City2Surf without stopping and beat last year’s time by 45 minutes. I’m so proud and have only just taken my medal off today. Here’s the blow by blow…

After months of anticipation, my husband Adam and I...

Being born in 1983 with complex congenital heart disease, I was part of a generation that saw remarkable advancements in medical care. However, even with these advancements, there were few of us who survived through childhood and into adulthood. This meant there wasn't an enormous amount of...

If you hear “Stop, collaborate, and listen,” you might think of Vanilla Ice. We're not here to bring back 90s rap (though that might be fun). Instead, let’s focus on something equally crucial: learning to stop, recalibrate, and listen to your mind and body.

Vanilla Ice might...

Living with a chronic illness means constantly balancing what you want to do with what your body can handle. Sometimes, it's easy to push ourselves too hard, thinking we can just power through. Sometimes, it’s hard to even know when you can push through and when you can’t. But our...

Living with a chronic illness often means needing extra attention, more help, and greater flexibility. It's a reality we face daily. However, there come moments when someone we love needs us to be their rock. These times are rare but incredibly important. How do we, as people managing chronic...