Thursday, April 15, 2010

Gone too soon ...

I have been meaning to get on here for the past few days and write a post about the month of April. I celebrate my birthday at the end of the month and like to extend the celebrations - come on who doesn't like to draw these things out a bit! ;)
So I had decided that April was 'All about me' - getting out and enjoying myself and life in general.
The events of yesterday help put this very much into perspective ... life is for living to the full, don't put off til later what you can enjoy today ...

I was on my way home from Auckland yesterday afternoon when I learned some very sad news.
Gayle Hall, mother of paralympian gold medal winner Adam Hall, had been killed in a car accident.
I had the privilege of first meeting Gayle just over 7 years ago when she was my student midwife when I had Finn. She was an 'older' student - she has been a nurse/midwife at Queen Mary for a few years I guess, but was still working and completeing study to gain her Bachelor of Midwifery. She gained her degree in time to be my lead midwife when I had Emma 5 years ago. And since then I would often bump into her at the supermarket and she was always interested in how the kids were doing, the last time only a few weeks ago.
She was such a larger than life character, a great sense of humour and alway smiling. She was also one very proud Mum, even more so last month when she was on hand in Canada to see Adam win his gold medal. Gayle, Adam and the family only returned from overseas last Tuesday ... and now so suddenly her family are greiving her loss.

Now even more so I am reminded that we should not sit back and let life pass us by, life is definitely for living, grabbing opportunities when they present themselves and telling those that you care about that they are loved.

*Gayle - Thank you for the amazing care you gave me when I had my wonderful children, you will always be remembered by me. My thoughts are with your family at this sad time.*


Will post an update on my holiday tomorrow - once I have edited some of the 300+ photos.

2 comments:

mandyb said...

so so sad....
cant wait to hear about the auckland travels !!!!

Janine said...

what only 300 photos? thats not many lol.

Strangely I don't know Gyale, but when the news broke on stuff, I felt for the family and saddened by her passing.

Hugs Michelle. Looking forward to reading about your travels BTW. I bet your nan was rapt to spend sometime with the kids and you.