A Childhood That Shaped My Purpose
I have always felt deeply passionate about ensuring children living with serious illness have their voices heard and are truly understood.
Reflecting on my own childhood, I remember the vulnerability that can accompany not feeling understood. Those experiences shaped my belief that every child has the fundamental right to be seen, heard and valued. As a nurse, this conviction led me into caring for children living with chronic and life-limiting conditions, and ultimately into specialising in Paediatric Palliative Care (PPC).
Challenging Society's Assumptions
Throughout my career, I became increasingly aware of how difficult many adults find it to accept two realities: firstly, that children can become seriously ill, and secondly, that children do die.
As adults, we naturally expect children to outlive us. Many of us imagine they will one day support us as we grow older. When the opposite occurs, when a child dies before their parents, it challenges our deepest expectations and is, in many ways, an assault on the human psyche.
Learning Through National Conversations
Until recently, I was privileged to serve on a Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora working group tasked with identifying the workforce needs for palliative care across Aotearoa New Zealand, including both adult and paediatric services. My particular focus was the paediatric component.
This was a significant piece of work that involved conversations with professionals from across the country, including those working in children's services, in the community, hospitals and hospices, many of whom primarily care for adults.
What stood out consistently was the dedication, compassion and unwavering commitment of those working in palliative care. Despite ongoing challenges, including workforce shortages, limited education opportunities, insufficient training and funding constraints, there was an extraordinary willingness to provide the very best care possible. The goodwill and commitment of these professionals became one of the strongest themes emerging from those discussions.
Walking Alongside Children and Their Whānau
These conversations prompted me to reflect on my own journey.
Throughout my career, my "can do" attitude enabled me to help develop and deliver services for children, rangatahi and their whānau. Yet the real strength always belonged to the families themselves. They were the ones undertaking the complex, everyday mahi of caring for their children at home.
My role was to walk alongside them, both clinically and psychologically, doing whatever I could to reduce burden, isolation, fear and the sense of facing the journey alone.
One of the greatest gifts I could offer was to listen deeply.
Although I could not change their circumstances, I could ensure children and their families knew they had been heard, understood and respected. That should never be underestimated.
Realising How Deeply This Work Is Embedded
As I reflect on my career, I have become increasingly aware of just how deeply paediatric palliative care has become woven into who I am.
While it is now time to hand the baton to others who will continue leading this work, my passion for the cause remains unchanged. I will continue to advocate for children's voices to be heard and to support initiatives that improve services for tamariki, rangatahi and their whānau.
Recently, I had the privilege of speaking with Annah Stretton on her podcast, where we reflected on part of this journey and the development of services for children living with serious illness. Looking ahead, I am discovering new ways to contribute, not by leading services directly, but by supporting, mentoring and encouraging those who have taken up the mantle so this important mahi continues to grow.
A Commitment That Continues
Ensuring children are seen, heard and have their needs met remains one of the guiding principles of my life and work.
It is a responsibility that belongs to all of us as a society, and I remain committed to doing whatever I can, in whatever role I hold, to contribute to a future where every child and young person is treated with dignity, compassion and understanding.
"History will judge us by the difference we make in the everyday lives of children."
— Nelson Mandela
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