CHANGE CHALLENGE

3/5/2023

On the 27th of April, I didn’t have a choice not to be strong. It was very hard for me to make my own choices with the support from my Husband Daryl and our son Bradley. I prayed every night and asked God for some help in what I do as I really believe in God.

For 7 long years, I have been suffering in so much pain and discomfort. I have been for X-rays and tests as the ulcer on my leg had gotten bad, and they just said “Mary it looks like you may have your leg taken off”.

My thoughts were “What I’m going to do with one leg for the rest of my life now?”

I wanted to enjoy my life with our son Bradley, that’s why I lost all my weight so I could get around and do things with my family and friends.

I was so scared and confused, I’m so glad I had my carer Jan with me, I couldn’t do it on my own. Jan sat with Daryl, Bradley, and me and I just kept saying to myself “Now I have to always rely on people”. This is something that I fought so hard to avoid and to lose all my weight for, but it didn’t work out for me.

In June 2022 I made a big decision to lose weight as I wanted to be independent and have more confidence in myself, I had a gastric sleeve done in November 2022.

Before my surgery on the 3rd of May 2023, I had to be weighed. I was 159.9 kgs before the surgery and after my leg was removed, I was 148.7 kgs.

Wow no more pain and suffering, now it was time for healing.

Sometimes being strong is hard, I know how strong my sister Donna, mum, and my brother James were through their short lives, they went through so much and they have been taken away from us all too soon. It’s so heartbreaking but they are all in good hands now.

It was hard to ask for help and I didn’t know how to ask as we had done it all on our own until we met with the

NDIS. I was so nervous to talk about myself and my family, but they were so lovely, and they talked to me in a way I could understand. I’m so glad to have the NDIS support in my life.

I never asked for help often, Daryl and I did everything on our own until now. 

I used to say to friends who were asking if we needed any help and I didn’t like to say YES, then I would say to

them Please don’t take it take it to heart I don’t like to ask for help as I like to try doing things on my own because we were taught by my mum and dad to try to do things on our own and be reliable and responsible too.

I know now it’s time to reach out for help. 

Thank you for your lovely support, Alison, Rich, and my lovely helpers and support from NDIS.

I couldn’t ask for anything better than that.

Thank you, lovely ladies, you all mean so much to me and my family……...

From,

Mary Ellen Pullen