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“Admitting you need help is the hardest thing”
Life took Jane on a brutal detour. A car crash left her husband with crushing chest injuries, PTSD and in constant need of care. Then, her own surgery went awry, stealing her sight and career, leaving her with double vision. Unable to work, medical bills spiralled and the mother of four found herself in the unfamiliar lines of Foodbank.
Admitting you need help is the hardest thing,” Jane shares. “It takes someone brave to speak up. For a long time, I didn’t and it just got worse and worse. The bills kept coming and I ended up in a bad financial situation.”
What should have been a simple procedure went horribly wrong when Jane contracted a staph infection that spread to her eyes. The permanent double vision stole her career and made even basic tasks a challenge. “I had to relearn how to walk, how to do everyday things,” she shares. “Just getting by is exhausting.”
Between caring for her husband, raising four children, and fighting her own health battle, returning to work was out of the question. “I used to lead a company, managing engineers and chemists. Going from that to relying on a food bank was devastating. But I have to provide a roof over my children’s heads.”
A high-achieving businesswoman forced out of work, Jane felt lost. So, she found purpose in giving back. Volunteering at a local sports club, she saw kids priced out of participating. “No one should miss out,” she declared. She went on to implement a payment plan system to ensure every child could play.
“While I can’t work anymore,” she explains, her eyes holding quiet determination, “I can still make a difference. It’s my way of giving back to the community while I care for my husband.”
Jane’s story is more than hardship. It’s about resilience and discovering purpose in unexpected places. Her bravery reminds us that everyone has the power to make a positive impact. Whether it’s volunteering, donating, or simply offering a helping hand, together we can build a community where no one faces hardship or hunger alone.