I found out late last year that I needed a liver transplant. I was close to death at least three times in the past year and it gave me a new outlook on life for which I am grateful and humble to get.
Since my illness, I’ve lost almost everything I ever owned–and painfully had to rehome my two cats I never got to say goodbye to because I was in hospital at the time of their adoption. That was achingly hard.
My sister has been my rock of late. Today, she took time out of her busy schedule and life just to offer me some help as I am forced to move yet again. A few weeks ago, the friend who so generously offered me six months’ stay at her home suddenly decided she couldn’t live with another person and demanded I leave right before Christmas. I am a single mom who, in addition to battling a life-threatening illness, has fought to retain legal rights to my young daughter whilst I was just trying to survive. I was happy and hopeful we’d be celebrating our Christmas here at my friend’s house until a few weeks ago. My stresses to find an affordable, safe place to live where I could bring my daughter for visits was daunting. My sister has scrambled to help to the best of her ability.
Today, she spent time with me and my daughter. She also helped me gear up for my pending move this week. I am signing my car over to her because I cannot afford the regulatory upgrades and licensing to drive it in my state. She replaced the battery and removed it from my friend’s house which was also demanded. Then she gave me some money to help me get a few small gifts for my daughter. I am on government assistance and can barely afford to live with what I get, let alone get the small things like gifts for my child.
I repeatedly thanked my sister for everything she has been doing. I plan to make her some handmade crafts when I settle into my new circumstances. Her love and support have helped carry me through one of the worst years of my life. I will do all I can to make sure she knows that she’s my super-hero!
A lady was confused about how to use a change in public transport in Sydney and afraid to do it on her own. I took her down to the platform and onto the metro train, sat with her and helped her off the other end until she was back in a familiar section of central station
Cooked meals for the elderly in our community
Walking dog
I was on a Sydney train listening to music through my earbuds. In between songs I heard
someone crying. I took out my headphones out to listen, and realised it was coming from the side
opposite me, a few rows ahead. A teenage girl was sitting scrunched up into the window of a bench seat
fit for 3 people. No one sat next to her because she was crying so hard and so loud. The whole train
was packed, except for the gaping hole of seats next to her. I got up, walked over, and sat down next to
her.
I asked her if she was ok. Her cries dissipated a bit and she said (through heaps of tears) that she
was going through some really hard times with her family. I said ‘I’m so sorry. I’m going to sit here
beside you and if you feel like talking, just let me know.’ She didn’t speak but she seemed to calm down a
little bit and we rode in silence for about 5 stops. Then she got off and thanked me. I responded, “Hang in
there, everything will be ok. Take care of yourself.’ I was the only person on that train that spoke to her,
in hopes that I could help her.
I think many of us have become so desensitised to everyone around us and the pain they might be
experiencing. We’ve all been there. We’ve all been upset, crying, angry…whatever.
We don’t know what’s happening in other people’s lives. So, now, I make it a point to check in with
people, even if it’s just to say ‘Hello, How are you?’ or ‘Would you like to go get a coffee?’ It can make
all the difference to someone that’s struggling.
I found out late last year that I needed a liver transplant. I was close to death at least three times in the past year and it gave me a new outlook on life for which I am grateful and humble to get.
Since my illness, I’ve lost almost everything I ever owned–and painfully had to rehome my two cats I never got to say goodbye to because I was in hospital at the time of their adoption. That was achingly hard.
My sister has been my rock of late. Today, she took time out of her busy schedule and life just to offer me some help as I am forced to move yet again. A few weeks ago, the friend who so generously offered me six months’ stay at her home suddenly decided she couldn’t live with another person and demanded I leave right before Christmas. I am a single mom who, in addition to battling a life-threatening illness, has fought to retain legal rights to my young daughter whilst I was just trying to survive. I was happy and hopeful we’d be celebrating our Christmas here at my friend’s house until a few weeks ago. My stresses to find an affordable, safe place to live where I could bring my daughter for visits was daunting. My sister has scrambled to help to the best of her ability.
Today, she spent time with me and my daughter. She also helped me gear up for my pending move this week. I am signing my car over to her because I cannot afford the regulatory upgrades and licensing to drive it in my state. She replaced the battery and removed it from my friend’s house which was also demanded. Then she gave me some money to help me get a few small gifts for my daughter. I am on government assistance and can barely afford to live with what I get, let alone get the small things like gifts for my child.
I repeatedly thanked my sister for everything she has been doing. I plan to make her some handmade crafts when I settle into my new circumstances. Her love and support have helped carry me through one of the worst years of my life. I will do all I can to make sure she knows that she’s my super-hero!
A lady was confused about how to use a change in public transport in Sydney and afraid to do it on her own. I took her down to the platform and onto the metro train, sat with her and helped her off the other end until she was back in a familiar section of central station
Cooked meals for the elderly in our community
Walking dog
I was on a Sydney train listening to music through my earbuds. In between songs I heard
someone crying. I took out my headphones out to listen, and realised it was coming from the side
opposite me, a few rows ahead. A teenage girl was sitting scrunched up into the window of a bench seat
fit for 3 people. No one sat next to her because she was crying so hard and so loud. The whole train
was packed, except for the gaping hole of seats next to her. I got up, walked over, and sat down next to
her.
I asked her if she was ok. Her cries dissipated a bit and she said (through heaps of tears) that she
was going through some really hard times with her family. I said ‘I’m so sorry. I’m going to sit here
beside you and if you feel like talking, just let me know.’ She didn’t speak but she seemed to calm down a
little bit and we rode in silence for about 5 stops. Then she got off and thanked me. I responded, “Hang in
there, everything will be ok. Take care of yourself.’ I was the only person on that train that spoke to her,
in hopes that I could help her.
I think many of us have become so desensitised to everyone around us and the pain they might be
experiencing. We’ve all been there. We’ve all been upset, crying, angry…whatever.
We don’t know what’s happening in other people’s lives. So, now, I make it a point to check in with
people, even if it’s just to say ‘Hello, How are you?’ or ‘Would you like to go get a coffee?’ It can make
all the difference to someone that’s struggling.