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- Kirby's story: “Even as a nurse myself, it's completely different being the patient"
Kirby's story: “Even as a nurse myself, it's completely different being the patient"
Kirby is used to caring for others. A registered nurse from Maitland, a mum to two young children, and someone who loves the outdoors, 37-year-old Kirby had built her life around caring for others and making the most of family time.
Days were filled with work, camping trips, cricket, and the joyful chaos of raising her kids, Norah and Vance. Then, while on maternity leave, something didn’t feel right.
“I found the lump while I was breastfeeding, but thought it was just a blocked duct. I’d already made a GP appointment, but I wasn’t super concerned,” Kirby recalls. “I went to the doctor the day after Norah turned one and the day before I was due back at work.”
Within days, everything changed.
“When they asked me to come in that day, I just knew something wasn’t right. As soon as I got the results I started asking, ‘Am I going to lose my hair? Will I need chemo?’ and the doctor just said, ‘Probably.’ I came home and my partner was outside playing with the kids, and I just nodded at him. He knew.”
Despite her medical background, nothing could prepare her for being on the other side.
“Even as a nurse myself, it’s completely different being the patient.”
As treatment began, so did the challenge of holding everything together, her health, her identity, and her role as a mum. When things became overwhelming, Kirby reached out to McGrath Cancer Care Nurse Justine with a simple message: help.
From that moment, she didn’t have to navigate it alone.
“Justine helped me make sense of everything and supported me in a way that really empowered me.”
- Kirby
As a country mum with two small children, Kirby’s needs went far beyond treatment plans. It was about keeping life steady for her family while everything else felt uncertain.
Justine understood that immediately.
“When someone’s young and has small children, there are so many layers to their care, it’s not just about their treatment, but their identity, their relationships, and their fears for their kids… It’s about focusing on the whole person.”
That meant helping Kirby manage side effects, supporting her through hospitalisation, and guiding conversations with daycare, but also knowing when to step in emotionally.
“Justine knew when to let me take the lead and when to step in,” Kirby says. “She made me feel safe and in control at the same time.”
In the hardest moments, particularly during treatment setbacks, that support became everything.
“Justine’s care has been absolutely integral. She made me feel heard and empowered through all of this.”
- Kirby
Now nearing the end of treatment, Kirby is focused on rebuilding strength and embracing time with her family, in the small, everyday moments that matter most.
And while life is moving forward, one thing stays with her, having someone there who could see the whole picture.
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