TESTIMONIALS

I was officially diagnosed with indolent systemic mastocytosis in 2021. Being diagnosed with a potential life-threatening illness, that has no known cure at this time is not only daunting but takes a real toll on mental health. After coming to terms with my own diagnosis, there was a few things that I did to really help get me through the initial shock and begin to seek the treatment I needed and alter my day to day life so I can now live the best I am able. As a creative person and being a writer, using words to reach out to others and help those in the same situation as me became the logical next step. I applied for the Taylor Nearon Grant in 2022. As a mum living with this potentially life limiting disease, I began to see if there were any books out there that represented women like me, who were mothering through serious chronic illness. I couldn’t find a great deal, so I decided myself to write a short book, a resource for mothers and carers to share with their children. The Taylor Nearon grant has allowed me to commence work on this valuable resource. With the funding from The Super T’s Mast Cell Foundation, I have been able to commence the creation of something that will help support families during some tough times, and help them ‘normalise’ their new normal with a parent navigating their parenting journey, while also juggling being in chronic pain, receiving treatment and constant hospital and doctors visits. This grant has given me not only the ability to start this project but also the confidence that my community believes that what I have to put out into the world is valuable. Thank you to Tammy and the whole team.