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- 20 Years Of The Best Job In The World
20 years of the best job in the world
Sharon Shelford and Karen Miles, McGrath Cancer Care Nurses
Some careers are just jobs – others become a life’s work, built on care and the chance to help others when they need it most.
For McGrath Cancer Care Nurses Sharon Shelford and Karen Miles, that’s exactly what nursing has been. A privilege, a passion and, without a doubt, ‘the best job in the world.’
Sharon’s very first patient as a McGrath Cancer Care Nurse was a 26-year-old who was six weeks pregnant when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was a steep learning curve, but what she learnt while caring for the young mum to be still fuels Sharon’s passion for the job today.
“She taught me so much about being a cancer care nurse,” Sharon explains. “She taught me what patients really need, psychosocially, socially and practically. I learnt not to just treat the physical, I learnt that a disease like cancer affects the whole person.”
Her patient remained in Sharon’s care until she passed away at just 32. The experience has stayed with Sharon to this day. On her wall still hangs a drawing from her son, who was seven at the time, thanking her for her work.
“I still love what I do, each and every day. It's the best job I've ever had.”
- Sharon
Another experienced nurse who joined the foundation in 2009 was Karen Miles. Originally from the UK, Karen’s grandmother was the street midwife, and her mother worked in the profession too.
“It was in my blood,” Sharon declares. “I always knew I wanted to be a nurse.”
Now, Karen’s spent more than three decades in oncology nursing, dedicating the past 16 years of her career to her role as a McGrath Cancer Care Nurse in Ipswich. Her long-standing relationships with patients and their families are what Karen values the most.
“You become part of their story, and they become part of yours.”
- Karen
For Karen, the McGrath Foundation has become like a second family, one that shares her values and unwavering drive to care for people with cancer.
Together, Sharon and Karen have supported thousands of individuals and families. Two McGrath Cancer Care Nurses with one shared belief: that this really is the best job in the world.
At the heart of the McGrath Foundation’s extraordinary journey is Kerry Patford, one of the original McGrath Cancer Care Nurses who has since risen to become the Foundation’s Chief Nurse.
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