Never under estimate yourself

WelshBlue

You can achieve what you need to be

My daughter struggled from a young age with self-harming, bulimia and generally hating herself. It transpired she'd experienced sexual trauma at a very young age.

With the help of a wonderful GP and a great CAMH's psychologist she started to heal.

Then dedicated teachers helped her to catch up on her schoolwork, to the point she became an A star student in her GCSE's to get into 6th form

She then went to a new school where her grades in her first year went from A* to U because of atrocious, didn't care teaching. Her old school took her back under their wing and again the dedication of the teachers shone through, even going in on the weekends to help her cram 2 years of sixth form into one school year … the result being she got the grades to go to university for a degree in Paramedic Science. Fast forward 3 years and she achieved a first, and gained employment with the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust

Fast forward another 12 months and she received a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis.

Instead of resigning her to the scrap heap WAST have supported her above and beyond where she has gained many skills in roles not seen by your average Paramedic (not that any Paramedic is the slightest bit average)

Today I come home a very proud Dad after watching her graduate again yesterday with a first class degree with honours in Acute and Critical Care, with the knowledge they want to publish her dissertation to medical journals

Not a gloating, boastful post, just a heads up that the past, no matter how traumatic, an illness/disability, the the frailest of mental health doesn't always have to define us if the right help is out there.

WAST didn't put her on the scrap heap, but more importantly, she didn't put herself there, even from a young tender age

Never be afraid to seek help … your goals can be achieved. Believe in yourself

Bluebell21

Thank you for sharing a wonderful, inspiring post. @WelshBlue

Your daughter with the right help has achieved her goals. Well done.

You have every right to be very proud of her.

Rosie_Scope

Your daughter sounds like a brilliant person @WelshBlue, it's lovely to read about her achievements after such a difficult start in life. Glad she was able to find the right support to help her through it all and I hope she continues to thrive in whatever she chooses to do next 😊

WelshBlue

@Bluebell21 and @Rosie_Scope … thank you on behalf of her

She has been so very lucky in that the right people were there for her at the right time.

From Healthcare to Teachers (some of whom from both bodies look her up when they're in Cardiff

Sadly it's not a level playing field out there and so many youngsters can slip through the net and not be able to heal/ thrive

She's also very lucky to have a supportive partner as she moves on in life.

I've told her I want credit in the journals, for waking me up to proof read it at 4 am to get it in by the 9 am deadline 😃

I also learned a lot about Neonatal care … very complex and scary how much can go wrong in those first 28 days

Not looking forward to her dissertation when she does her Masters, so many words to Google 🤣

Albus_Scope

That's amazing news @WelshBlue and if I were you, I'd be singing it from the rooftops, your daughter is a tough cookie and you are an amazing support to her on so many levels. You both need to crow about it a little bit I think. 😉

Rosie_Scope

You better start swotting up on the medical terms now @WelshBlue! 😁 Good luck to her (and you!!)!

Does she start her Masters straight away or is she taking a break?

WelshBlue

Thanks @Albus_Scope … so very tough. Even in her very darkest days she's always shone through. It's easy to be there for her when my daughter is my role model. She's like my wife, people just love her … me, I'm Marmite

It pains me that every youngster deserves the care but not all get what they deserve. She's been lucky in more ways than one

@Rosie_Scope … my medical knowledge was limited to Call The Midwife 😁

She's off to San Francisco for a month in August to decompress, then she's got to discuss with WAST whether she'll be in complaints or teaching hospital ambulance staff again … or back out on the road. A bit in limbo, role wise and financially. They'll finance part of it and she's got to make up the short fall. She's been working shifts at a gig/ comedy arena 2/3 nights a week after a day shift. I want her to take a year out, charge her batteries and save a bit so she only has to do arena shifts if she wants to see the band/ comedian for free and get silly money for the honour lol

I'm just her Dad, try to give advice and it may be taken on board, then the next day a phone call about something random I've no knowledge of … eg, why isn't the hot water working … ummm I don't know, I'm a 100 miles away 😂

Mary_Scope

Ah this is amazing @WelshBlue. I hope your daughter has the best time in San Francisco😄This was such a lovely post to read on a Monday morning. Massive congratulations to her and to you!!😄

Rosie_Scope

Sounds great @WelshBlue, hope she has a fantastic time in San Francisco and everything with her masters works out okay. I'm sure she feels so lucky to have a dad like you supporting her ☺️