Celeb Best Blog

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month. I posted a tribute to my darling Mum last year here.

Mum had to put up with a lot of dodgy kitchens over the years. We moved around South Australia with my Dad's job & his employer always provided us with a house. All well & good, but the kitchens were generally well past their use-by-date & Mum struggled. The bench tops were the problem, as Mum was very tall at 5'11" & of course, they were always too low. So Mum always left a session in the kitchen rubbing her back & voicing her 'displeasure' at the 'One Size Fits All' mentality of cabinetmakers.

Many years later, towards the end of her life, she was able to fulfil her dream of the perfect kitchen. She remodelled her own kitchen in her own home & made sure the benchtops were built to her exact height specifications. I don't think she stopped smiling once it was complete! So, while this pink kitchen of Mal Corboy's is a probably a little OTT for your simple taste darling Mum, I know it would have made you smile!

Mum's breast cancer was well-advanced by the time she was diagnosed & her subsequent surgery very radical, with extensive lymph node involvement & wide excision. The effect this had on the lymphatic drainage to her affected arm was dramatic. Breast Care Nurses were non-existent then, but in her post-operative recovery, Mum was very fortunate to be cared for by an RN who had developed these skills informally. She was an angel & I will never forget the loving care, support, wise counsel & advice she gave Mum in the ensuing years. Today I want to highlight the work of these dedicated nurses, their essential work is now recognized & acknowledged globally. In Australia the Jane McGrath Foundation has championed this cause - breast care nurses are specially trained registered nurses who act as patient advocates, coordinating care for women with breast cancer, their families and their carers. They provide accurate information, support and referral to services. Along with her 2 precious children Holly & James, the McGrath Breast Care Nurses Foundation has been Jane's greatest legacy. Thank you Jane & Glenn for making a difference to the lives of hundreds of women with breast cancer & their families.

Images: Mal Corboy