The following comes with a disclaimer . . . I am not yet sure that I am ready to give our gentle readers this update.
I do not usually write in my current frame of mind, preferring to quietly reflect and share my experiences after they have happened (when I write in my current state, I have a tendency to ramble on, so forgive me, or enjoy it; your choice).
The reason my impatience has won this time is because I harbour a teeny tiny feeling of resentment about a recent event of which I was a part . . . We were scooped by the “Courier Mail” ON MY OWN STORY!
For this, dear readers, I am sorry. You can be consoled by the fact that right here, in the “Buloke Times”, you get it from the horse’s mouth. I may not have all the facts straight every single time, but it’s always my honest perspective; and while I am still going through rather significant health issues, my brain is active and fired up enough to catch you up on the details surrounding my name “hitting the headlines”.
Hate is such a Strong Word!
I hate politics. I’m putting that right out there. HATE. I never use that word, I’m all about the love, but politics baffle me and I mostly have to educate myself on every topic before I can even grasp what’s going on. It’s hard work for me to stay informed the way our country is run, but I do try!
What I do have to my advantage, is a tiny bit of experience working in Bio-security during emergency response. The COVID pandemic is obviously global scale and a far more significant version of my experiences, but I have a good foundation for understanding some of the restrictions set in place to slow the spread of the virus, and an idea of howthe people working in the pandemic response must be feeling.
Exemptions
And I get why the borders have been closed. I am not disputing Annastacia’s decision to be strict on quarantine measures. It has to be done. However, there are appearing some flaws in the protocol that are making me question: why have a Queensland Border Pass Exemption option, if no one is exempt?
I have now applied twice for a Queensland border exemption. Since Buloke has remained COVID-free for the entire pandemic, you can all agree that our region well and truly over-qualifies for the 14 days at zero cases target guideline that the QLD government used to relax their restrictions. In my particular circumstances, as you all know, there has been a need to visit Melbourne on a regular basis for my cancer treatment. (I’ve not exactly kept that fact hidden now have I?)
Following my recent decline in health, visiting my family has become top priority to me, so wanting to do the right thing and have all my paperwork stamped and approved, I applied for a Queensland border exemption to quarantine at a private residence in Brisbane (my mother’s house). I am currently being weaned off high dose steroids that severely compromise my immune system. Quarantine conditions suit my situation for more reasons than just COVID; I am at risk from any bug, infection, allergen, gastro etc., and my mum’s home is ready and waiting to provide a nurturing environment to convalesce in.
The trip alone will be taxing on me, but the decision to go for my mental health, and in the hope to see family that I haven’t wrapped my arms around since prior to my terminal diagnosis, have driven me to make the journey while I have the chance between medical appointments.
Conditions
So far, my exemption application has been accepted under government hotel quarantine conditions. This to be paid in full at my own expense, for the entire quarantine period of 14 days, even if I were to return to Victoria within that period. No details of cost, location, or even a number to call were included in the response.
I followed up with a second application that included a support letter from my oncology team. This letter clearly stated that hotel quarantine had the potential to severely compromise my health and that it was strongly recommended I quarantine in my family home.
The response I received was even more vague than the first, so I followed up with a phone call – a number I had some difficulty in finding, but eventually got through to a case manager, who was compassionate and sympathetic, and only too willing to help me find an alternate way to get to my family; but unfortunately not understanding that my health requires a direct flight and a big long sleep in my mum’s spare bed at the other end. She instead left my application open to allow me to make any changes, which yesterday, I made.
But we’ll get to that; I’m getting ahead of myself... In amongst these “yes but no” responses I was getting, that insisted I quarantine in a government assigned COVID hotel, my mum was getting frustrated. Recent hospital visits, endless testing, and an enormous meeting of minds at Peter Mac on my behalf have increased my desire to connect with my family. Not just to lift my spirits, but to lift theirs. They need to see my humour is still intact. They need to see me fighting this. I need THEM to see me fighting this. Especially my mum . . . because, where do you think I got this fighting spirit from?
My Mother (Aka “The Pitbull”)
I will let her read this prior to publishing. Please don’t be offended that I have referred to my own mother as a breed of dog – in my house, we try to be more like our dogs. “Dog” in my world is a compliment. My mum has been fondly referred to as “Pitbull” by more than just me, because she has a tendency to sink her teeth into something and doesn’t let go; in her passion, she hangs on and terrorizes it into submission.
My little mother has a fire inside of her that abhors injustice of any kind, but she is also has the biggest and softest heart you’ll ever find in another human being. She fights for those who can’t fight for themselves (sometimes, even against their will). She’s a remarkable woman of fortitude and strength, wrapped up in this itty, bitty, tiny, little, cuddly package (love you, Mum).
While my applications for border exemptions were being knocked back, Mum got busy up in Brisbane. She sent a copy of my most recent melanoma update to one of her local MPs; he immediately sprang to action and in turn contacted someone in the “Courier Mail”. The thing grew legs on me, and in the days following my hospital stay, I was taking phone calls from the front porch in my pyjamas, and watching my story hit the headlines two days later.
Dealing with big newspapers is obviously a different process to what I’m used to, or comfortable with. The interest was not in my personal story but more that my circumstances fitted the information they wanted to highlight.
Which was the double standard being seen, with celebrities being offered the same conditions I am applying for. I was asked for criticism on Danni Minogue’s approval to quarantine in a private residence and, to be honest, I hadn’t even heard about it, nor did I care. For me, this is not about what the celebrities are doing (“but you let Danni into Queensland!!!! WAAAAAHHHH!” is just NOT me).
I feel there are far more logical points in my set of circumstances that could be highlighted in support of my case, more so than whatever the celebrities are doing or not doing.
Falling through the Cracks?
I was told by the case worker than there is one set of protocols. If you have been in a hotspot in the last 14 days, you must hotel quarantine. I feel exceptional circumstances such as mine should be reconsidered for the following reasons:
Attending hospital in Melbourne does increase my risk of being exposed to COVID, yes, but prior to admission both times, the hospital kept me isolated and ensured I tested negative before allowing me into the ward. That procedure in itself should be used as an example for considering exemptions. I tested negative, I was allowed in; simple yes?
But if that is not enough, let’s say they are concerned I’ll come into contact with COVID on the way to the airport. Couldn’t I arrive in Brisbane, immediately get swabbed for COVID and self-isolate at my mother’s until the results return? Let me remind you all, I am not trying to go sight-seeing in Queensland; I am, in fact, a terminally ill cancer patient who really wants some of mumma’s chicken and corn soup to make me all better! Signs and symptoms of COVID would put me in hospital, not Queensland. They are dealing with a person who will be very easy to contact trace.
Since I am not currently in hospital, showing no signs or symptoms of any bug that would compromise my health, now self-isolating on a farm in a COVID-free region, after testing negative twice during both my stays in Melbourne – surely, with all of THOSE points to consider, I would be eligible to be considered exempt from hotel quarantine?
But not even the offer of paying to have my mother’s private residence policed to ensure I adhered to a COVID safe plan was enough to convince them; so, yesterday, I added to my application with a letter of support from the psychiatrist I’ve been seeing at Peter Mac.
Again, not one to hide the facts, I am open about my mental health, but for the purposes of this update, all you need to know is that the letter of support describes a long history of mental challenges exacerbated by a cancer diagnosis, and that it is highly recommended I be allowed to visit my mother in Brisbane.
And now I wait. And hope. And pray. That I’ll be approved and allowed to stay a short time in Brisbane before my next scheduled visit to Peter Mac. Perhaps the next update you will hear from me will be from there. For now, at least you got it from the horse’s mouth – it’s not all about celebrities!