I am on the floor in a shop doorway.

Dawn Hamill really inspires me. We ‘met’ on Twitter and her bravery, courage and sense of humour are amazing. I asked her to write whatever she wished, for NL Week and here it is, unedited.

 

I am on the floor in a shop doorway.I brush aside offers to help me up, with a polite thank you. I do it all the time, I say to the shop keeper. Lose my balance. Fall. That was the third this weekend.

I smile. Falling wasn’t always normal for me. In fact I would have thrown my head back in laughter if someone had said Dawn by the age of 50 you will have retired; be living in the shadow of a brain tumour; have re-learnt to walk again, twice, and be in the middle of treatment for breast cancer, oh  and let’s throw in epilepsy too…

Before 2008 I was driven by my love of nursing; working as a nurse consultant. But after my brain tumour surgery, like Forrest Gump took to running, I picked up a pen and started writing instead.

I have left the fast lane of life behind and joined the quieter side roads where I enjoy the small things and live in the moment.  I sing in a choir, swim in the warm baby pool and bathe in special moments with friends and family.

Life is precious. I will Never Give Up!

Thank you Dawn

As I said I met Dawn on twitter. We all come into contact with inspiring people and their stories every day. Choose to discover them and the world’s a much more positive, enjoyable and caring place to be.

Dawn inspires and informs through her BLOG

You can also follow Dawn on twitter @dawn_hamill

Share your stories and inspire others in the comments below

Finally, Dawn says this following poem sums up her approach to life, before the tumour but even more so now:

Twenty years from now you will be
more disappointed by the things that you
didn’t do than by the ones you did,
So throw off the bowlines,
Sail away from the safe harbour,
Catch the trade winds in your sails,
Explore. Dream. Discover.

Mark Twain

With my love and best wishes
David
X