Chobani is currently promoting their #BreakYouMake project. They’re challenging everyone to talk about someone in their life (family, friends, coworkers, etc.) in need of a break.
The premise behind this project is that people throughout America work hard and need a break. Their Chobani Flip Greek Yogurt is the perfect way for everyone to get the break they deserve.
My mum is without a doubt one of the hardest workers and most inspirational people I know.
Almost 15 years ago, my family and I moved from Stevenage, England to Portland, Oregon due to my dad’s job relocating here. My dad moved a couple of weeks before us to get settled in and set things up, so my mum made the trip halfway across the world with three kids aged 10, 8, and 6.
Trying to keep three kids entertained on a 10 1/2 hour flight from London to San Francisco, then a flight up to Portland was no easy task and I don’t envy that she had to do that. Especially with children that weren’t used to flying.
Once we settled into Portland, she took us to and from school, to all of our soccer, volleyball and tennis games and practices, went to all of our school events, and even helped coach my little sister’s middle school volleyball team.
My mum is a nurse and is currently working as a hospice nurse here in the Portland area. Hospice nurses provide comfort care for people who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness and given six months or less to live. She frequently has a full case-load of 13 patients and it is her responsibility to provide comfort care for them and be someone that they, they’re families, and caregivers can talk to.
She spends her day driving around Portland, visiting patients at their houses or the care facilities they are living in. Some days she drives up to 80 miles and sees five different people.
When most people get home from work, they can sit down and enjoy the rest of the day. My mum’s work hours are 8-5:30, during which time she is making phone calls, calling in prescriptions, coordinating with doctors, sending faxes/emails, and visiting patients throughout the city.
Most nights though, she isn’t done with work at 5:30. She might be home at that time, but she will likely still have a couple of hours of documentation to do for each patient from that day’s visits. Her daily grind is absolutely insane.
Despite how hard she works and everything she has to cram into a single day, it’s easy to see how much she loves what she does. She develops relationships with her patients and their families, allowing her to do her job to the best of her abilities.
Because her patients all have terminal illnesses, she deals with death often. I can only imagine the mental and emotional toll it must have on her; I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be able to handle it.
As well as being an incredible hospice nurse, she’s been a great nurse for me too. Over the last 10 years, I’ve had six knee surgeries and she and my dad have been there for each one, taking me to post-op appointments and physical therapy until I was cleared to drive again.
Did I mention she also runs half marathons? She’s incredible.
She has been a constant source of encouragement for me. It was my mum who first suggested I apply to culinary school and it’s definitely not an understatement to say I wouldn’t be where I am today without her.
So thanks, mum. You’re the best. You deserve a break more than anyone I know.
