Unexpected Interlude 🚑 (Part 2)

Dec 30, 2024

It's early December, and after the chaotic and personally mega-intense year I recounted in the last blog, I was celebrating my oldest son finishing his final year of school, finally feeling free of family constraints for the rest of the year, ready to leave 2024 behind, just about to release something truly game-changing for Marketing Me® and gearing up for a big 2025.

And then I got sick.

The sickest I’ve ever been.

I had Horrible Covid. But then it got worse.

I was unable to hold down even a sip or two of water.

Took myself to Emergency. Given a drip for dehydration, then sent home. Twice.

Alone at home I was in so much pain I was unable to sip, swallow (even saliva) struggling for breath, literally.

I called an ambulance - and for the first time all the sirens were going all the way, and half-conscious I remember speeding through the streets and through the lights.

I was massively dehydrated. And turns out I also had severe Covid-pneumonia, fluid engulfing my lungs, and some other complications.

I spent a week quarantined in hospital.

Five days on breathing machines.

Three teams working together— ICU, Respiratory, and Infectious Diseases Specialists.

One night at 11:30 pm, a doctor walked in with two nurses and told me they were concerned. They saw something on a CT scan and said they had a short window of time to bring it under control and massively upped the already intensive medication.

A non-stop cocktail of heavy-duty substances injected into the four IV points on my two arms.

I was in pain. Scared.

i even recorded a very emotional video for my kids, just in case.

But I trusted the medical team who were experienced and caring.

I trusted my body.

And I trusted God.

This wasn’t the first time I’ve needed a miracle.

In my book Marketing Me, I shared the very personal story of surviving postpartum hemorrhage—losing 3.5 litres of blood without a transfusion and my body recovered on its own and healed. No medical explanation. Just divine intervention.

This time, I was awake and aware.

And that sense of purpose and protection? It was there again.

I had a breakthrough and things turned around within a day my oxygen levels started improving and within 24 hours I was off the breathing support.

A few days later I was medically cleared for discharge.

I’m recovering now :-)

Very slowly, and still on bed rest.

Well supported by loved ones.

It will take time to get back to normal, but I know something bigger is at play.

And i know that despite the craziness of this whole situation, on the other side of it, and (on the other side of this crazy year generally) there will be a gift and growth beyond what i could fathom.

Things are is unfolding all around us, and if you had a tough year too, maybe what happened to you was needed, to get you ready for what's to come.

Just like i trust that what happened to me this year was all for a bigger purpose too.

So if 2024 was a slog, I feel you.

I know that it was a really sh*tty year for a lot of good people.

Massively stretching for a lot of exceptional people I know.

For me it involved confronting fears, traumas and the reality of tough current situations finally, after years of surpressing and repression.

Which started impacting my physical health as well.

Just going the logistical demands of parenting three teenagers and two pre-teens. (my kids are great but it’s still a lot, as any parent knows!)

I’ve needed more support and grace and rest than ever before just to be ok.

I know this current chapter and what is transpiring mostly relates to personal areas of my life, but i also know everything is related.

It always is 😊

And I'm thankful for all the blessings professionally I experienced this year too. And a business that supported me through this difficult personal time.

And I truly can't wait to turn the page on the next chapter, because now more than ever I know I have a message that so many need to hear.

The beautiful, fresh approach to personal branding that Marketing Me brings, stemming from my 30-years of marketing expertise, combined with my lived experience navigating the ups and downs and twists and turns of modern life, and an innate understanding of how to connect with people as a brand.

I believe with everything in me that 2025 will be different.

And I have so much good stuff in the storehouse ready to be unleashed.

Whether your focus is “revive,”, “survive” or “thrive,” in ‘25, or there’s light ahead.

i truly believe that.

With every fibre in my being.

I’ll be back tomorrow with some thoughts that will inspire, motivate and help you start the year strong.

Meantime, I trust you continue to enjoy the days-all-blend-in-together week that sits between Christmas and New Year.

See you again for the final installment of this little "unexpected interlude" trilogy soon!

💛