What happens when the year you’ve been waiting for turns into the one that tests you the most?
On New Year’s Day 2023, Jodie entered what she believed would be her fresh start. She had survived her hardest years: working and parenting through lockdowns, farewelling three beloved aunties, and ending a 19-year relationship. She bought a house, began renovations, finalised her divorce, and settled her boys into a new rhythm. A year of freedom and fun was ahead.
Within days, a car accident, a camping trip, and a text message about a long-forgotten mammogram shattered that optimism.
Breast cancer. Two tumours.
What followed was a year defined by survival and medical misogyny. Multiple surgeries, and the devastating news (twice!) that the cancer hadn’t been fully removed. She made the agonising decision to have a double mastectomy, followed by forced menopause, chronic pain, and relentless insomnia.
A sudden change at work while she was still on sick leave, the reality of a mortgage resting solely on her shoulders, and two teenage boys watching their mum try to hold it together took its toll.
She kept working, parenting, renovating, and showing up when she had nothing left to give. But resilience has limits. By the second half of the year, the cracks showed. Physical exhaustion collided with emotional depletion.
This is not a story of pink ribbons. It’s about grief, determination, and the brutal reality of starting again when you thought the hard part was already behind you.
And still, you find a way through.
⚠️ Our episodes contain conversations about difficult life experiences. Some episodes include coarse language and themes such as childhood trauma, sexual assault, infant loss and references to suicide. Please take care while listening and prioritise your wellbeing.
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Production assistance from John Hresc at Sydney Sound Brewery
