I was in my late 30s, sitting at my desk, staring blankly at the screen. My body felt like it was shutting down—overwhelming fatigue, brain fog, and complete lethargy. But the worst part was my mental state. I was completely overwhelmed and on the verge of losing my job. My mind was constantly on ed...

If you’re living with chronic illness, you’ve probably built a handful of go-to coping strategies over the years. Maybe it’s rest days when your body needs a break, or distracting yourself with a book when pain flares up. For a while, these strategies may have been lifesavers—things you could rely o...

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 a chronic illness, th...

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 medical care, ...

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, program delive...

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 lived with complex congenita...

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 I’m packing to make sure I arrive f...

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 improving outco...

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 wish I had known before my ...

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 drove to Sydney last Saturday ...

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 research...

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 have been onto somethin...