September 8, 2022 • 38 mins
We are back with a double header. This is Part 1 of 2. The first Kaitlyn (the daughter) and coming soon part 2 (the mother)
Kaitlyn was diagnosed with cancer aged 3. She is now 22.
She has spent a lifetime knowing no different. She can either participate in life because she is well or she can’t.
She has her good days and bad…. But most of all. She wants to talk about other things in life, not just cancer.
There is a real lesson here from this inspiring young woman.
We love ya Kaitlyn.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Hey, Caitlyn, thank you so much for joining us on
the Women of Influence podcast. Hi. Technology has not been
our friend today, but we're going to make this work
right yeap, Caitlyn, you have got a story to tell.
I tell you what, and so everyone that gets to
(00:29):
hear this story knows how we know each other. There's
kind of two parts, isn't there really? So my husband
Chris basically grew up with your dad and your dad
and mama friends of ours, and then I had the
privilege of being able to teach you dance at Kate's
(00:50):
dance house for I don't know. I want to say.
I want to say seven years. Actually I want to
say it was the full seven years.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Was a fair will.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
It was a fair while you were kind of growing
up in front of my eyes, Caitlyn. I remember, years
and years and years ago, it would how old are
you now?
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Twenty two?
Speaker 1 (01:14):
Twenty two? Yeah, I was about to say, I remember,
it feels like twenty years ago. But I remember there
was a big fundraiser that was organized in Campdown and
you were only really little, and there was another another
young girl from Camperdown as well, and the fundraiser was
from her for her as well to raise some money
(01:36):
so that you could do something special within your families. Caitlyn,
how old were you when you were diagnosed? Now do
we say brand cancer or something more technical?
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Now I just say brain tumor just a brain tumor.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Yeah, yeah, So when how old were you?
Speaker 2 (01:58):
Then? It was a week before my third birthday when
I was diagnosed.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
Yeah, so you've known, you've has it been to any
period of time when it hasn't been there or it's.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
No, Unfortunately, it's been there from day dot to now.
So yeah, what are.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Your earliest memories, Caitlin of I don't know, maybe being
in the doctors or going to the hospital being unwell.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
Well, obviously being little, I just thought everything was normal
and everyone everyone did it. But obviously getting older, I've
noticed no one like, not everyone does it, So uh,
(02:56):
getting older, I've noticed not everyone has em right, and
not everyone has chemotherapy, and not everyone go through what
I go through. So maybe when I've got older, I've
noticed that more than I did when I was little.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
So what was your favorite thing to do when you
were a kid? Because I remember seeing you dancing, but
I remember you at football, and I remember you hanging
out with your best mate Amy. You were inseparable by
the way, But what was your favorite thing to do
growing up in Camperdown.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Probably hanging out with my friend Amy. It was a
big part of my life as we are still friends
to this day. And yeah, just trying to get out
and do things as much as I can. But yeah,
(03:59):
it's hard what I can and can't do.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
So yeah, tell me about the things that you can
and can't do.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
The things I can do, you know, I just try
and do sort of thing, and the things I can't do,
I realized I can't do them if I give it
a try. I always try before I see if I
(04:34):
can't or can, so that it gets a little bit
frustrating if I can't.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
Yeah, do you I mean I got to see you
as a little kid, Caitlin. So it's been a few
years between our chats together. You've been such an inspiration
and probably I would say that not because of the tumor,
(05:01):
but because of the way that your personality is structured up.
You have a smile that lights up a room. And
what's interesting is what you said, you know when you
were little was this this has been your normal too,
So you just kind of have got on with living
(05:22):
this incredible life.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
Yeah. Yeah, I just said, it's just been my life,
you know, from day dot, basically like since I was little.
So it's just been one of those things that you know,
I've had to learn to live with and deal with
(05:45):
while I'm living life. So it's I have my tough moments. Definitely.
I can't it's all smooth all the time. I definitely
have my tough moments. But yeah, it's just.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
It's just what it is, and I have to try
and keep going with it and show people, you know,
how you can do it with the attitude sort of thing.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
Yeah, and I think that's what we're talking about.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Now.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
Have you ever sat down and did the counts of, say,
how many surgeries you've had over your lifetime?
Speaker 2 (06:29):
No, I haven't, but I do know roughly how many.
And I think to myself, jeez, that's such like that,
so many that you know, for a young girl can
have already by twenty one, twenty two now, But yeah,
(06:55):
it's just I just think to myself, how can my
head go through that many?
Speaker 1 (07:02):
Are we talking more than twenty surgeries? Are we?
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Yeah? We are?
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Yeah? Yeah, yeah, Now you're not the only child in
your family. You're there's four, right, I was trying to
go through them. So we've got Luke.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
I've got Luke, who's my oldest brother. Yeah, and then
it goes me, and then it goes James, who's eighteen,
and then Eliza, who's sixteen.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
I'm sure that at times your beautiful siblings have been
total pains in the butt. But but at the same time,
you know, I bet they've beat a great support to
you over the years as well.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
Oh yeah, definitely they've been you know, they've entertained me,
they've kept me gown. Yeah, they've been really good. Yeah,
real supportive. And yeah, I can't I can't say pretty
much anything bad really, They've just been really good. You know,
(08:16):
my oldest brother, Luke, he he's been really good. I
think because he's been from the start to now. He
he kind of gets it a bit more like he
understands what I'm going through and all that. So he
certainly worries about me, so which is nice.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
So, yeah, do you have one on one chats together
with him about you know, what you're worried about or
what he's worried about. Is it close like that?
Speaker 2 (08:51):
We probably don't have touch, like we don't have chats
in such. But if I end up unwell, mom says, oh,
Luke is really worried, and you know Luke this and whatnot.
So yeah, it's who certainly worries, but which is nice.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
So yeah, sometimes brothers show their worries in different ways,
don't they. And I definitely it's mums that can convey,
you know, how they're going to help bridge that gap.
What about your little sister Eliza.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
Aliasie, Well, she obviously worries. They all worried basically, but
and there's not much they can do, that's the thing.
So she worries, but they can't do much. They just
(09:55):
can't do much about it sort of thing because when
I I do get on, well, Mom and Dad basically
ring the ambulance and I head off, so it's fairly quick. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (10:10):
Yeah, yeah, they've been an amazing group of siblings. I
think they have had each other and you know, been
that beautiful support to you as you said, you know,
even if they have been a total pain at times,
you know, I mean there's just to be by the way.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
Yeah, yeah, definitely.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
Now having a mental having a mental block again, there
was I don't want to miss out on you know,
we always miss out on the little brother, the middle
child or whatever. And then you know, you know, they
were always forgotten ones, and they'll you know, correct us
later and say you didn't mention me. So who do
(10:53):
we miss out on? Who do we miss there in
the middle? James? That's right? How James?
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Now James is eighting.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
That's right, that's right.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
Yeah, yeah, so yeah, he's he's good. They're all good
siblings and very caring and and whatnot. But I can't
say say one thing about bad about them. But they're
just siblings at the same time too, you know what
(11:26):
I mean.
Speaker 4 (11:27):
I do.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
Yeah, And your brothers and your sisters and your love
them and it's it's all good. Camping Down is a
really really special place to live. There is nothing like
a small country town and camping Down. Camping Down is
(11:50):
everything that you imagine for that. So on one hand,
they know everything that's going on in your life and
and you can love and hate that. And at the
same time, if there is a call to arms, if
someone needs a hand, they band together like I've never
(12:10):
seen before, you know, And that football club, the camp
and Down Football Club, is the backbone of this beautiful town.
How important has the football club been to you and
your family, do you think, Caitlyn.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
They've been really good. The support has been great, you know,
just in the sense of, you know, I has Caitlin
to Dad or you know, just just always caring, you know,
asking after me and asking if they can do anything,
and you know they're just really caring.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
So do you get up there much yourself and watch
some games or you know you're putting on the jumper
and yelling from the sidelines yourself.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
Well, as you know, I don't play myself, but I
definitely do go up and watch my two brothers and
my sister, so you know, obviously watching my brother's play
footy and my sister watching watching her playing netball. I
(13:26):
do help Marie well, she coaches. I do help her
in some way, which I just love doing because it
feels like I'm a part of it, you know, so
and I help in any way I can really and
(13:47):
it just makes me feel involved.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
Yeah, I don't think it's a matter of feeling like
you're a part of it, Caitlin. I'd say you're very
much a part of it, a very important part of it,
and Marie Wall that you speak of, you know, is
a legend in her own right, probably someone that we
should be getting on this podcast and chatting to too. Yeah,
(14:13):
has it been hard at times, Caitlin? I know, you
know we spoke about Amy before. I know, you've got
another great mate in Sarah, and there's others You've had
these amazing and they are still obviously great friends, but
they're off, They're doing a lot of partying, they're off
at UNI, or they're starting to work and do those things.
(14:37):
I mean, how is that for you?
Speaker 2 (14:43):
Yeah? I definitely have my days where I just think
this is, you know, not fair. But I just think
to myself, you need to stop. You can't do anything.
You know, your friends they work and have their life
(15:05):
with other friends. But I also think, why can't I
have a life like everyone else. I just think all
these things that can't happen sort of thing. And then
I always think to myself, you know, look, I could
(15:26):
always choose a bad opportunity where I can go for
surgery and get the tumor out, and then these difficulties happen,
and then I'll be worse, a lot worse, And I think, no,
we don't want that, so it gets pretty tricky for me.
(15:48):
I find it hard, but there's not much I can do.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
Do you have people that you can talk to about
that in terms of, you know, a counselor or a
psychologist or or is this something that you talk to
to mum about or dad or like, yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
I have a cancer in Cobdent and I am with
and as very great and just Manifold place down the
street here, so yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
Yeah, yeah, because there's something again inspiring about you know,
you have two pathways, I guess, and it's totally okay
to have those really shitty days, Caitlin. Holy moly, and
yet I listen to you now and I you know,
you keep choosing to look on the positive. That's the
(16:53):
kid that I taught how to dance all those years ago, Like,
that's the same kids, that's the same outlook, you know.
So you know, it's it's pretty If I keep saying
the word inspiring, I'm sorry because you probably like stop it.
So what things look like at the moment, Caitlin, how
(17:19):
are you at the moment? What's going on?
Speaker 2 (17:22):
Well, I've just recently had more surgery as I got
quite sick, and Mum and Dad thought, this is not normal.
So I had more surgery just recently and the tumor
has grown. But they don't want to do chemotherapy sort
(17:49):
of thing. They want to use this other drug that
it's just a tablet form and it like just that's
the area. So yeah, it's that's where we're at now.
But it's just, yeah, I'm about I'm sick of talking
(18:13):
hospitals and appointments and this and that, you know, I
just want to get on with life sort of thing.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I can totally understand that. Are you
getting some times where you i mean, we're talking a
lot about cancer, We're talking a lot about tumor at
the moment when we're chatting, But do you get some
time where you go, look, today, you know what, I'm
just not going to think about it. I'm going off
(18:41):
to you know, waterable shopping, or I'm going to Malvine
for a couple of days. Yeah, can you give yourself
that break a little bit or it's it's with you
every day, no matter what.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
Yes, and no likes of the other day, I went
to Melbourne with a group of you know, patience, could
you say and again, you know, it was repeating yourself,
you know, but when I'm here it's like at home
(19:18):
it's a little bit more relaxed because I don't have
to repeat myself to Mum or dad.
Speaker 4 (19:23):
Yeah, yeah, but yeah, it's just I think it's just
one of those things people.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
That's what I found. A lot more people in themselves
so interested in to know, not me wanting to tell
everyone's sort of thing. It's people that are interested, that
want to know, and that want to know this and
want to know that. But as I said to Mum,
(19:54):
I'm more than happy to tell them. But I said,
it is frustrating, you know, like it's it It feels
like I'm just repeating myself all the time.
Speaker 5 (20:06):
So yeah, do you think it's hard because they want
to know how you're going and then sometimes not knowing
how to Like, I mean, what's worse, Caitlin, Like when
people don't acknowledge you know, if you have been.
Speaker 1 (20:24):
You know, like, what's worse for you? Kind of lots
of questions or people being awkward. I mean, do people
get awkward around you or not know what to say
or how to ask or you think you care down
people are like, well, Caitlyn, what's going on?
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Well not really. I think because I've had it for
so long, people have got to know me and with
my health basically, Yeah, they've got to know me with
my illness sort of thing. So I think they've just
got to know how to deal with it, you know,
(21:04):
and how to treat me, you know sort of things.
So yeah, it's just one of those things that I've
just got to, yeah, deal with myself, you know. And
I said to Mom, the hardest thing is with it
is not much. Not many people can do things, and
(21:25):
that's hard. Like it's just basically myself that can help myself,
can try and do things, you know, but not many
others can help me sort of thing.
Speaker 4 (21:39):
You know.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
Like I remember when I was having chemo and I
had a few people I was having trouble with Kenular's
and I had a few people saying to me, oh,
so wish I could help you. It's like, yeah, I
get what you mean, but you can't, So please don't
say you know.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
It's yeah you yeah, it's that how do I help?
There's nothing. There's literally nothing at the moment.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
There's nothing you can do. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
Yeah, it's a little bit of human nature, isn't it.
We want to we want to offer it and we
want to fix it, and then we want to get
on with things, and some things something's kind of just
can't be fixed.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
Yeah. Yeah, but you know everyone's really really good around
like really nice around here and helpful and you know
just real yeah, really good.
Speaker 1 (22:35):
So yeah, hey, let's not talk cancer for a minute.
Let's say when you're when you're when you're well, Caitlin,
what do you love doing? What's your what's your favorite
thing to go out and do?
Speaker 2 (22:52):
Uh, there's all sorts of things. As you know, I
work at wool Worst and Care for Now, So I work,
which is nice to get out and see other people
and you know, do something a bit different. That's always good.
(23:14):
And then you know, like getting out and you know,
going for a hot chocolate with a friend or you know,
just things like that, little bits and pieces. It's just
nice to get out. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (23:27):
There's something so bloody humbling about talking to Caitlin and
hearing you say, you know, like I'm just happy to
go to work. I'm happy to have a hot chocolate
and catch up with a friend. I think sometimes we
might be over complicating our lives when I hear you
(23:48):
talk about you know, just to be able to work
and to be able to catch up with a friend
sounds pretty awesome to me.
Speaker 2 (23:56):
Yeah, it is.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
Mom and Dad are two of the most incredible people
that I have ever met in my life. Your dad
football star with a good heart, and moum one of
the most generous of hearts that I've seen. And you know,
someone that if a friend was in need, she would
(24:22):
drop to help. You know, has been like that. You
would be very close with your mom and dad.
Speaker 2 (24:29):
I am very close with mom and Dad, as they
know from the start how hard and tough this has been,
so you know, they know what to do. They know
when I'm not well, they know when I am well.
You know, just they know all the side effects sort
(24:51):
of thing and that so I can rely on them
to make sure I'm okay and save them whatnot. But
they've been so good to like, They've been great. They've
been my heroes for the last nineteen twenty years.
Speaker 1 (25:10):
So have you been able to have big conversations with
them about more than the treatments, but more about you know,
no way don't want to do that surgery or no,
I don't want to keep going with that form of
medication and at times if they've had to say kay,
(25:33):
and we need you to do this, like we need
you know, have you had or has it been challenging
at times? You know, like have you come to heads
some days where you're like.
Speaker 2 (25:45):
Well, we have challenging times together, but again we have
our chats and they say, we've got to do what
you want to do. We don't want you to do
what you don't want to do. They said, you know,
you're getting older to the point where you can make
your own decisions, and they said, we've got to get
(26:07):
to the point where we've got to step back and
let you make your own so that you know, it's
been a long time and Mum and dad have done
it very tough for the last you know, so long
(26:28):
that my dad actually struggles now to talk about it.
So yeah, it's very hard, yeah, to talk to him
about it. But I think I get sick of talking
about it more than anything because I just think, oh gosh,
(26:50):
I feel like I just have a life around my health,
nothing else, and I just think this is so not fair.
I've got other things to talk about them my health,
you know. So yeah, it's just if we work all
together and help each other and whatnot, we do get
through it.
Speaker 1 (27:12):
Thank you for you know, agreeing I guess to join
me on the podcast because you know, this is what
we're talking if we're talking about, we're talking about these
cards that have been dealt to you and how you're
dealing with it. You know, thinking, I'm thinking about your
dad now, I mean mom and dad they're fought to
(27:35):
keep you alive, you know, like you are really a miracle, Caitlin.
If Dad was here now and he's not, so it's
just me and you and you can so you get
that opportunity to say whatever you want. You know, what
would you say to your mum and dad how much
(27:57):
I love them?
Speaker 2 (27:57):
You know, they've been my heroes from day dot. And
I wouldn't go with the item, Yeah, yeah, pretty, I wouldn't.
I wouldn't change my parents at all.
Speaker 4 (28:11):
You know.
Speaker 2 (28:13):
I always think, you know, if I did have to
change parents, they wouldn't have any idea and they wouldn't
have any idea what was going on or what was
this and what was that? You know, and you know,
like Mum, she got my folder out the other day
with all the paperwork from doctors and whatnot, and I said,
(28:35):
oh my gosh, Mom, I said, that is so thick.
It's so thick, it's not funny. And she said, well,
this is what's done to me, what you've done to me.
And I said, yeah, but not my choice. And she
said no, she said, I mean it like this is
you know, all your paperwork, and yeah, so it's just yeah,
(28:56):
it's just you have good times, me at bad times.
Speaker 1 (29:02):
Pretty incredible parents, Caitlyn. I'll tell you what. You know,
we talk about you being you know, an inspiration and
your attitude to life and getting on with things and
dealing with you know, you've known a lifetime of no difference.
You know, that's the that's the thing. And and for
(29:23):
mom and dad, you know, four kids, and you know
a child that yeah, has been sick for pretty much
her entire life. They've literally thought to keep you alive.
You know, we talk about you being an inspiration. Well,
i'll tell you what, Mom and Dad aren't too far
behind you, you know, like it might be it might
actually be a dead heat in my.
Speaker 2 (29:43):
Book, Yeah, yeah, definitely.
Speaker 1 (29:47):
So I could hear the frustration in your voice before,
like I'm sick of talking about it, Like there's more
to me than my health. So tell me about it.
Tell me about Caitlyn.
Speaker 2 (29:59):
Oh, well, you know, just things like, you know, I
drive like everyone else, and and I like, you know,
do like I go places like everyone else, and just
things like that. You know, I think people forget. But yeah,
(30:19):
it's just like can you not talk about that? Can
you like talk about something else to me? You know,
like what could be happening or you know, like it's
just little things like that.
Speaker 1 (30:30):
But yeah, yeah, like what are you watching on Netflix
at the moment? Or yeah, have you been to the
movies or what's on the weekend. Yeah, you want to
be you want to be treated like a normal everybody else.
Twenty one year old sorry, twenty two year old got yeah,
I get this. I hear you, Caitlin.
Speaker 2 (30:53):
But as I said to Mum, you know, like now
that I'm twenty two, it's like boring.
Speaker 1 (31:03):
Do you know what? Well, it's just a bloody miracle
that you made it to twenty one now so two
and is that kind of how you look at it?
Like okay, so here I am. You know, like my
goals are to work and catch up with friends for
a hot chocolate and get to the footy and and
do that and then to make it to twenty three.
Speaker 2 (31:25):
Oh definitely.
Speaker 1 (31:26):
And that's you know, is that is that how you
kind of just another year is another I'm here for
another year. That's how I'm looking at it, you know.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
Oh definitely, yeah, yeah, definitely, Yeah. I take each dad
as it comes. Basically.
Speaker 1 (31:45):
I just remember when you were younger, Caitlin, and we
we had so the dance school. The dance school was
called Kate's Dance House, yes, and I still have the photos.
One of my favorite memories was when we changed the
name to Caitlin Stance House because, let's mace it. You
(32:07):
were basically running the show. You were keeping me in line.
You know. We had a we had a disco, we
all dressed up, we had a big party. We did
a little fundraiser. I think you bought a phone if
if that's correct.
Speaker 2 (32:26):
I think I might have actually now that you say.
Speaker 1 (32:29):
It, yeah, yeah, you know, I just say you. But
you were a natural organizer too, you know, like you
were a connector of people is how I would describe you.
You know, people wanted to be around you in a
part of things. And oh my gosh, and I remember
(32:50):
you coming around to our house in Scott Street for
a slime, you know, we must have done, and we
were throwing slime and other.
Speaker 2 (33:00):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (33:02):
I don't know if the new owners know that there's
probably still slime on that back fence or that doesn't matter. Yeah, yeah, yeah,
but that was there was just you know, I don't know,
just so much good fun. And it was like it
was like you were this woman, you know, this wise
(33:25):
woman inside a child's body. You know, you'd lived a
thousand years for this, you know, ten year old that
was in front of me at the time. And I
remember thinking, this young woman, this young girl. You know,
we don't know how long we're going to have her for,
so we just we just keep going with it. We
(33:46):
just keep celebrating. Is that for you, Caitlin? In terms
of like looking forward, do you think into the future
too far or do you just go one birthday at
a time.
Speaker 2 (34:00):
I I basically just take a day a day as
it comes, because you just don't know what could happen,
and things can change very quickly. Yeah. So I just
think we'll try and live life as much as I can,
(34:20):
enjoy the things that I do. You know, just I
just think of it that way, because you just don't
know what could happen.
Speaker 1 (34:30):
Yeah, yeah, I'll take that. I'll take that. And do
you know the biggest lesson that I'm taking away from
our chat today and is, you know, people can be
going through terrible illness, but they're they're more than that,
and they want to talk about just the everyday us
of life.
Speaker 2 (34:50):
Yeah yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (34:57):
Well, Caitlin, we we're going to to do a part
one and a part two with this episode, with all
this podcast, so we've kind of got your story now,
and I'm gonna sit down with mom next week and
get her story to see, you know, what it's what
it's been like from her point of view. I loved
(35:19):
I loved what you had to say to them before.
They really are great people. And I guess we better.
I better ask you one last question, And because I'm
thinking about those those siblings of yours, if you could,
if you could say one thing to your your brothers
and your sisters now, what would you say to them.
Speaker 2 (35:41):
That they're also my heroes because they're always there for me.
Speaker 1 (35:49):
Perfect. Hey, Caitlin, I'm gonna have to get the camp
down soon. I think I think I am.
Speaker 2 (35:57):
I think you might have to.
Speaker 1 (35:59):
I think I might have to get to camp now
I'm very very soon and catch up. Or like I
said in my message to you, I meant that if
you ever go have you been to Sydney.
Speaker 2 (36:08):
Before, Well, yes, I have been to Sydney. Yes, actually
I loved it.
Speaker 1 (36:15):
Yeah, well, so the office still stands. If you're ever
in Sydney, you know that you've got a place to stay,
and and and if you don't mind getting lost, because
I am totally a country person in the Sydney you know,
like I would happily show you around. It will be
the long way.
Speaker 2 (36:32):
Oh well that's okay, Yeah, excuse, excuse to miss my flight.
Do you know what?
Speaker 1 (36:39):
Trust me, it won't take much to miss a flight
these days.
Speaker 2 (36:42):
We will not know.
Speaker 1 (36:45):
Where. You've done a little bit of traveling, haven't you?
Speaker 4 (36:48):
Like?
Speaker 1 (36:48):
We're Yeah, I had some pretty cool holidays. Where have
you been.
Speaker 2 (36:52):
We've been to Sydney, We've been to America, We've been
to Queensland, We've been to Thailand. Yeah, yeah, all around
the world kind of thing.
Speaker 1 (37:07):
Pretty amazing. And did you did it? Was it something
with was it canteen or was it make a Wish
or someone like that? Did they get involved in one
of those trips or.
Speaker 2 (37:19):
I can't remember, wish we went to Queensland.
Speaker 1 (37:23):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, then mom and dad have organized the
rest far out. Yes, yeah, amazing.
Speaker 2 (37:31):
And you know some of those trips. Gotta love my men.
She's taken us on some of them. So she's been
a dream to me too.
Speaker 6 (37:43):
So yeah, do you know what, thank you for reminding
me because she's probably one of the best cooks in
town too, by the way, Yes, and again.
Speaker 1 (37:55):
She's been with you every step of the way, or
with the family every step of the way too.
Speaker 2 (38:00):
All right, definitely, she's been that every appointment and just
everything went on mine, well, she's just been the best man.
Speaker 1 (38:12):
Well, Caitlyn, we took a little while to connect, but
we got there, Yes we did. We got the zoo
to work. Thank you so much for joining us on
the Women of Influence podcast, and we'll look forward to
hearing mom's story two. Yes, thanks Caitlyn.
Hey, Caitlyn, thank you so much for joining us on
the Women of Influence podcast. Hi. Technology has not been
our friend today, but we're going to make this work
right yeap, Caitlyn, you have got a story to tell.
I tell you what, and so everyone that gets to
(00:29):
hear this story knows how we know each other. There's
kind of two parts, isn't there really? So my husband
Chris basically grew up with your dad and your dad
and mama friends of ours, and then I had the
privilege of being able to teach you dance at Kate's
(00:50):
dance house for I don't know. I want to say.
I want to say seven years. Actually I want to
say it was the full seven years.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Was a fair will.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
It was a fair while you were kind of growing
up in front of my eyes, Caitlyn. I remember, years
and years and years ago, it would how old are
you now?
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Twenty two?
Speaker 1 (01:14):
Twenty two? Yeah, I was about to say, I remember,
it feels like twenty years ago. But I remember there
was a big fundraiser that was organized in Campdown and
you were only really little, and there was another another
young girl from Camperdown as well, and the fundraiser was
from her for her as well to raise some money
(01:36):
so that you could do something special within your families. Caitlyn,
how old were you when you were diagnosed? Now do
we say brand cancer or something more technical?
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Now I just say brain tumor just a brain tumor.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Yeah, yeah, So when how old were you?
Speaker 2 (01:58):
Then? It was a week before my third birthday when
I was diagnosed.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
Yeah, so you've known, you've has it been to any
period of time when it hasn't been there or it's.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
No, Unfortunately, it's been there from day dot to now.
So yeah, what are.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Your earliest memories, Caitlin of I don't know, maybe being
in the doctors or going to the hospital being unwell.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
Well, obviously being little, I just thought everything was normal
and everyone everyone did it. But obviously getting older, I've
noticed no one like, not everyone does it, So uh,
(02:56):
getting older, I've noticed not everyone has em right, and
not everyone has chemotherapy, and not everyone go through what
I go through. So maybe when I've got older, I've
noticed that more than I did when I was little.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
So what was your favorite thing to do when you
were a kid? Because I remember seeing you dancing, but
I remember you at football, and I remember you hanging
out with your best mate Amy. You were inseparable by
the way, But what was your favorite thing to do
growing up in Camperdown.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Probably hanging out with my friend Amy. It was a
big part of my life as we are still friends
to this day. And yeah, just trying to get out
and do things as much as I can. But yeah,
(03:59):
it's hard what I can and can't do.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
So yeah, tell me about the things that you can
and can't do.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
The things I can do, you know, I just try
and do sort of thing, and the things I can't do,
I realized I can't do them if I give it
a try. I always try before I see if I
(04:34):
can't or can, so that it gets a little bit
frustrating if I can't.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
Yeah, do you I mean I got to see you
as a little kid, Caitlin. So it's been a few
years between our chats together. You've been such an inspiration
and probably I would say that not because of the tumor,
(05:01):
but because of the way that your personality is structured up.
You have a smile that lights up a room. And
what's interesting is what you said, you know when you
were little was this this has been your normal too,
So you just kind of have got on with living
(05:22):
this incredible life.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
Yeah. Yeah, I just said, it's just been my life,
you know, from day dot, basically like since I was little.
So it's just been one of those things that you know,
I've had to learn to live with and deal with
(05:45):
while I'm living life. So it's I have my tough moments. Definitely.
I can't it's all smooth all the time. I definitely
have my tough moments. But yeah, it's just.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
It's just what it is, and I have to try
and keep going with it and show people, you know,
how you can do it with the attitude sort of thing.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
Yeah, and I think that's what we're talking about.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Now.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
Have you ever sat down and did the counts of, say,
how many surgeries you've had over your lifetime?
Speaker 2 (06:29):
No, I haven't, but I do know roughly how many.
And I think to myself, jeez, that's such like that,
so many that you know, for a young girl can
have already by twenty one, twenty two now, But yeah,
(06:55):
it's just I just think to myself, how can my
head go through that many?
Speaker 1 (07:02):
Are we talking more than twenty surgeries? Are we?
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Yeah? We are?
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Yeah? Yeah, yeah, Now you're not the only child in
your family. You're there's four, right, I was trying to
go through them. So we've got Luke.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
I've got Luke, who's my oldest brother. Yeah, and then
it goes me, and then it goes James, who's eighteen,
and then Eliza, who's sixteen.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
I'm sure that at times your beautiful siblings have been
total pains in the butt. But but at the same time,
you know, I bet they've beat a great support to
you over the years as well.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
Oh yeah, definitely they've been you know, they've entertained me,
they've kept me gown. Yeah, they've been really good. Yeah,
real supportive. And yeah, I can't I can't say pretty
much anything bad really, They've just been really good. You know,
(08:16):
my oldest brother, Luke, he he's been really good. I
think because he's been from the start to now. He
he kind of gets it a bit more like he
understands what I'm going through and all that. So he
certainly worries about me, so which is nice.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
So, yeah, do you have one on one chats together
with him about you know, what you're worried about or
what he's worried about. Is it close like that?
Speaker 2 (08:51):
We probably don't have touch, like we don't have chats
in such. But if I end up unwell, mom says, oh,
Luke is really worried, and you know Luke this and whatnot.
So yeah, it's who certainly worries, but which is nice.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
So yeah, sometimes brothers show their worries in different ways,
don't they. And I definitely it's mums that can convey,
you know, how they're going to help bridge that gap.
What about your little sister Eliza.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
Aliasie, Well, she obviously worries. They all worried basically, but
and there's not much they can do, that's the thing.
So she worries, but they can't do much. They just
(09:55):
can't do much about it sort of thing because when
I I do get on, well, Mom and Dad basically
ring the ambulance and I head off, so it's fairly quick. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (10:10):
Yeah, yeah, they've been an amazing group of siblings. I
think they have had each other and you know, been
that beautiful support to you as you said, you know,
even if they have been a total pain at times,
you know, I mean there's just to be by the way.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
Yeah, yeah, definitely.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
Now having a mental having a mental block again, there
was I don't want to miss out on you know,
we always miss out on the little brother, the middle
child or whatever. And then you know, you know, they
were always forgotten ones, and they'll you know, correct us
later and say you didn't mention me. So who do
(10:53):
we miss out on? Who do we miss there in
the middle? James? That's right? How James?
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Now James is eighting.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
That's right, that's right.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
Yeah, yeah, so yeah, he's he's good. They're all good
siblings and very caring and and whatnot. But I can't
say say one thing about bad about them. But they're
just siblings at the same time too, you know what
(11:26):
I mean.
Speaker 4 (11:27):
I do.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
Yeah, And your brothers and your sisters and your love
them and it's it's all good. Camping Down is a
really really special place to live. There is nothing like
a small country town and camping Down. Camping Down is
(11:50):
everything that you imagine for that. So on one hand,
they know everything that's going on in your life and
and you can love and hate that. And at the
same time, if there is a call to arms, if
someone needs a hand, they band together like I've never
(12:10):
seen before, you know, And that football club, the camp
and Down Football Club, is the backbone of this beautiful town.
How important has the football club been to you and
your family, do you think, Caitlyn.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
They've been really good. The support has been great, you know,
just in the sense of, you know, I has Caitlin
to Dad or you know, just just always caring, you know,
asking after me and asking if they can do anything,
and you know they're just really caring.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
So do you get up there much yourself and watch
some games or you know you're putting on the jumper
and yelling from the sidelines yourself.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
Well, as you know, I don't play myself, but I
definitely do go up and watch my two brothers and
my sister, so you know, obviously watching my brother's play
footy and my sister watching watching her playing netball. I
(13:26):
do help Marie well, she coaches. I do help her
in some way, which I just love doing because it
feels like I'm a part of it, you know, so
and I help in any way I can really and
(13:47):
it just makes me feel involved.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
Yeah, I don't think it's a matter of feeling like
you're a part of it, Caitlin. I'd say you're very
much a part of it, a very important part of it,
and Marie Wall that you speak of, you know, is
a legend in her own right, probably someone that we
should be getting on this podcast and chatting to too. Yeah,
(14:13):
has it been hard at times, Caitlin? I know, you
know we spoke about Amy before. I know, you've got
another great mate in Sarah, and there's others You've had
these amazing and they are still obviously great friends, but
they're off, They're doing a lot of partying, they're off
at UNI, or they're starting to work and do those things.
(14:37):
I mean, how is that for you?
Speaker 2 (14:43):
Yeah? I definitely have my days where I just think
this is, you know, not fair. But I just think
to myself, you need to stop. You can't do anything.
You know, your friends they work and have their life
(15:05):
with other friends. But I also think, why can't I
have a life like everyone else. I just think all
these things that can't happen sort of thing. And then
I always think to myself, you know, look, I could
(15:26):
always choose a bad opportunity where I can go for
surgery and get the tumor out, and then these difficulties happen,
and then I'll be worse, a lot worse, And I think, no,
we don't want that, so it gets pretty tricky for me.
(15:48):
I find it hard, but there's not much I can do.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
Do you have people that you can talk to about
that in terms of, you know, a counselor or a
psychologist or or is this something that you talk to
to mum about or dad or like, yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
I have a cancer in Cobdent and I am with
and as very great and just Manifold place down the
street here, so yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
Yeah, yeah, because there's something again inspiring about you know,
you have two pathways, I guess, and it's totally okay
to have those really shitty days, Caitlin. Holy moly, and
yet I listen to you now and I you know,
you keep choosing to look on the positive. That's the
(16:53):
kid that I taught how to dance all those years ago, Like,
that's the same kids, that's the same outlook, you know.
So you know, it's it's pretty If I keep saying
the word inspiring, I'm sorry because you probably like stop it.
So what things look like at the moment, Caitlin, how
(17:19):
are you at the moment? What's going on?
Speaker 2 (17:22):
Well, I've just recently had more surgery as I got
quite sick, and Mum and Dad thought, this is not normal.
So I had more surgery just recently and the tumor
has grown. But they don't want to do chemotherapy sort
(17:49):
of thing. They want to use this other drug that
it's just a tablet form and it like just that's
the area. So yeah, it's that's where we're at now.
But it's just, yeah, I'm about I'm sick of talking
(18:13):
hospitals and appointments and this and that, you know, I
just want to get on with life sort of thing.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I can totally understand that. Are you
getting some times where you i mean, we're talking a
lot about cancer, We're talking a lot about tumor at
the moment when we're chatting, But do you get some
time where you go, look, today, you know what, I'm
just not going to think about it. I'm going off
(18:41):
to you know, waterable shopping, or I'm going to Malvine
for a couple of days. Yeah, can you give yourself
that break a little bit or it's it's with you
every day, no matter what.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
Yes, and no likes of the other day, I went
to Melbourne with a group of you know, patience, could
you say and again, you know, it was repeating yourself,
you know, but when I'm here it's like at home
(19:18):
it's a little bit more relaxed because I don't have
to repeat myself to Mum or dad.
Speaker 4 (19:23):
Yeah, yeah, but yeah, it's just I think it's just
one of those things people.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
That's what I found. A lot more people in themselves
so interested in to know, not me wanting to tell
everyone's sort of thing. It's people that are interested, that
want to know, and that want to know this and
want to know that. But as I said to Mum,
(19:54):
I'm more than happy to tell them. But I said,
it is frustrating, you know, like it's it It feels
like I'm just repeating myself all the time.
Speaker 5 (20:06):
So yeah, do you think it's hard because they want
to know how you're going and then sometimes not knowing
how to Like, I mean, what's worse, Caitlin, Like when
people don't acknowledge you know, if you have been.
Speaker 1 (20:24):
You know, like, what's worse for you? Kind of lots
of questions or people being awkward. I mean, do people
get awkward around you or not know what to say
or how to ask or you think you care down
people are like, well, Caitlyn, what's going on?
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Well not really. I think because I've had it for
so long, people have got to know me and with
my health basically, Yeah, they've got to know me with
my illness sort of thing. So I think they've just
got to know how to deal with it, you know,
(21:04):
and how to treat me, you know sort of things.
So yeah, it's just one of those things that I've
just got to, yeah, deal with myself, you know. And
I said to Mom, the hardest thing is with it
is not much. Not many people can do things, and
(21:25):
that's hard. Like it's just basically myself that can help myself,
can try and do things, you know, but not many
others can help me sort of thing.
Speaker 4 (21:39):
You know.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
Like I remember when I was having chemo and I
had a few people I was having trouble with Kenular's
and I had a few people saying to me, oh,
so wish I could help you. It's like, yeah, I
get what you mean, but you can't, So please don't
say you know.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
It's yeah you yeah, it's that how do I help?
There's nothing. There's literally nothing at the moment.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
There's nothing you can do. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
Yeah, it's a little bit of human nature, isn't it.
We want to we want to offer it and we
want to fix it, and then we want to get
on with things, and some things something's kind of just
can't be fixed.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
Yeah. Yeah, but you know everyone's really really good around
like really nice around here and helpful and you know
just real yeah, really good.
Speaker 1 (22:35):
So yeah, hey, let's not talk cancer for a minute.
Let's say when you're when you're when you're well, Caitlin,
what do you love doing? What's your what's your favorite
thing to go out and do?
Speaker 2 (22:52):
Uh, there's all sorts of things. As you know, I
work at wool Worst and Care for Now, So I work,
which is nice to get out and see other people
and you know, do something a bit different. That's always good.
(23:14):
And then you know, like getting out and you know,
going for a hot chocolate with a friend or you know,
just things like that, little bits and pieces. It's just
nice to get out. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (23:27):
There's something so bloody humbling about talking to Caitlin and
hearing you say, you know, like I'm just happy to
go to work. I'm happy to have a hot chocolate
and catch up with a friend. I think sometimes we
might be over complicating our lives when I hear you
(23:48):
talk about you know, just to be able to work
and to be able to catch up with a friend
sounds pretty awesome to me.
Speaker 2 (23:56):
Yeah, it is.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
Mom and Dad are two of the most incredible people
that I have ever met in my life. Your dad
football star with a good heart, and moum one of
the most generous of hearts that I've seen. And you know,
someone that if a friend was in need, she would
(24:22):
drop to help. You know, has been like that. You
would be very close with your mom and dad.
Speaker 2 (24:29):
I am very close with mom and Dad, as they
know from the start how hard and tough this has been,
so you know, they know what to do. They know
when I'm not well, they know when I am well.
You know, just they know all the side effects sort
(24:51):
of thing and that so I can rely on them
to make sure I'm okay and save them whatnot. But
they've been so good to like, They've been great. They've
been my heroes for the last nineteen twenty years.
Speaker 1 (25:10):
So have you been able to have big conversations with
them about more than the treatments, but more about you know,
no way don't want to do that surgery or no,
I don't want to keep going with that form of
medication and at times if they've had to say kay,
(25:33):
and we need you to do this, like we need
you know, have you had or has it been challenging
at times? You know, like have you come to heads
some days where you're like.
Speaker 2 (25:45):
Well, we have challenging times together, but again we have
our chats and they say, we've got to do what
you want to do. We don't want you to do
what you don't want to do. They said, you know,
you're getting older to the point where you can make
your own decisions, and they said, we've got to get
(26:07):
to the point where we've got to step back and
let you make your own so that you know, it's
been a long time and Mum and dad have done
it very tough for the last you know, so long
(26:28):
that my dad actually struggles now to talk about it.
So yeah, it's very hard, yeah, to talk to him
about it. But I think I get sick of talking
about it more than anything because I just think, oh gosh,
(26:50):
I feel like I just have a life around my health,
nothing else, and I just think this is so not fair.
I've got other things to talk about them my health,
you know. So yeah, it's just if we work all
together and help each other and whatnot, we do get
through it.
Speaker 1 (27:12):
Thank you for you know, agreeing I guess to join
me on the podcast because you know, this is what
we're talking if we're talking about, we're talking about these
cards that have been dealt to you and how you're
dealing with it. You know, thinking, I'm thinking about your
dad now, I mean mom and dad they're fought to
(27:35):
keep you alive, you know, like you are really a miracle, Caitlin.
If Dad was here now and he's not, so it's
just me and you and you can so you get
that opportunity to say whatever you want. You know, what
would you say to your mum and dad how much
(27:57):
I love them?
Speaker 2 (27:57):
You know, they've been my heroes from day dot. And
I wouldn't go with the item, Yeah, yeah, pretty, I wouldn't.
I wouldn't change my parents at all.
Speaker 4 (28:11):
You know.
Speaker 2 (28:13):
I always think, you know, if I did have to
change parents, they wouldn't have any idea and they wouldn't
have any idea what was going on or what was
this and what was that? You know, and you know,
like Mum, she got my folder out the other day
with all the paperwork from doctors and whatnot, and I said,
(28:35):
oh my gosh, Mom, I said, that is so thick.
It's so thick, it's not funny. And she said, well,
this is what's done to me, what you've done to me.
And I said, yeah, but not my choice. And she
said no, she said, I mean it like this is
you know, all your paperwork, and yeah, so it's just yeah,
(28:56):
it's just you have good times, me at bad times.
Speaker 1 (29:02):
Pretty incredible parents, Caitlyn. I'll tell you what. You know,
we talk about you being you know, an inspiration and
your attitude to life and getting on with things and
dealing with you know, you've known a lifetime of no difference.
You know, that's the that's the thing. And and for
(29:23):
mom and dad, you know, four kids, and you know
a child that yeah, has been sick for pretty much
her entire life. They've literally thought to keep you alive.
You know, we talk about you being an inspiration. Well,
i'll tell you what, Mom and Dad aren't too far
behind you, you know, like it might be it might
actually be a dead heat in my.
Speaker 2 (29:43):
Book, Yeah, yeah, definitely.
Speaker 1 (29:47):
So I could hear the frustration in your voice before,
like I'm sick of talking about it, Like there's more
to me than my health. So tell me about it.
Tell me about Caitlyn.
Speaker 2 (29:59):
Oh, well, you know, just things like, you know, I
drive like everyone else, and and I like, you know,
do like I go places like everyone else, and just
things like that. You know, I think people forget. But yeah,
(30:19):
it's just like can you not talk about that? Can
you like talk about something else to me? You know,
like what could be happening or you know, like it's
just little things like that.
Speaker 1 (30:30):
But yeah, yeah, like what are you watching on Netflix
at the moment? Or yeah, have you been to the
movies or what's on the weekend. Yeah, you want to
be you want to be treated like a normal everybody else.
Twenty one year old sorry, twenty two year old got yeah,
I get this. I hear you, Caitlin.
Speaker 2 (30:53):
But as I said to Mum, you know, like now
that I'm twenty two, it's like boring.
Speaker 1 (31:03):
Do you know what? Well, it's just a bloody miracle
that you made it to twenty one now so two
and is that kind of how you look at it?
Like okay, so here I am. You know, like my
goals are to work and catch up with friends for
a hot chocolate and get to the footy and and
do that and then to make it to twenty three.
Speaker 2 (31:25):
Oh definitely.
Speaker 1 (31:26):
And that's you know, is that is that how you
kind of just another year is another I'm here for
another year. That's how I'm looking at it, you know.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
Oh definitely, yeah, yeah, definitely, Yeah. I take each dad
as it comes. Basically.
Speaker 1 (31:45):
I just remember when you were younger, Caitlin, and we
we had so the dance school. The dance school was
called Kate's Dance House, yes, and I still have the photos.
One of my favorite memories was when we changed the
name to Caitlin Stance House because, let's mace it. You
(32:07):
were basically running the show. You were keeping me in line.
You know. We had a we had a disco, we
all dressed up, we had a big party. We did
a little fundraiser. I think you bought a phone if
if that's correct.
Speaker 2 (32:26):
I think I might have actually now that you say.
Speaker 1 (32:29):
It, yeah, yeah, you know, I just say you. But
you were a natural organizer too, you know, like you
were a connector of people is how I would describe you.
You know, people wanted to be around you in a
part of things. And oh my gosh, and I remember
(32:50):
you coming around to our house in Scott Street for
a slime, you know, we must have done, and we
were throwing slime and other.
Speaker 2 (33:00):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (33:02):
I don't know if the new owners know that there's
probably still slime on that back fence or that doesn't matter. Yeah, yeah, yeah,
but that was there was just you know, I don't know,
just so much good fun. And it was like it
was like you were this woman, you know, this wise
(33:25):
woman inside a child's body. You know, you'd lived a
thousand years for this, you know, ten year old that
was in front of me at the time. And I
remember thinking, this young woman, this young girl. You know,
we don't know how long we're going to have her for,
so we just we just keep going with it. We
(33:46):
just keep celebrating. Is that for you, Caitlin? In terms
of like looking forward, do you think into the future
too far or do you just go one birthday at
a time.
Speaker 2 (34:00):
I I basically just take a day a day as
it comes, because you just don't know what could happen,
and things can change very quickly. Yeah. So I just
think we'll try and live life as much as I can,
(34:20):
enjoy the things that I do. You know, just I
just think of it that way, because you just don't
know what could happen.
Speaker 1 (34:30):
Yeah, yeah, I'll take that. I'll take that. And do
you know the biggest lesson that I'm taking away from
our chat today and is, you know, people can be
going through terrible illness, but they're they're more than that,
and they want to talk about just the everyday us
of life.
Speaker 2 (34:50):
Yeah yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (34:57):
Well, Caitlin, we we're going to to do a part
one and a part two with this episode, with all
this podcast, so we've kind of got your story now,
and I'm gonna sit down with mom next week and
get her story to see, you know, what it's what
it's been like from her point of view. I loved
(35:19):
I loved what you had to say to them before.
They really are great people. And I guess we better.
I better ask you one last question, And because I'm
thinking about those those siblings of yours, if you could,
if you could say one thing to your your brothers
and your sisters now, what would you say to them.
Speaker 2 (35:41):
That they're also my heroes because they're always there for me.
Speaker 1 (35:49):
Perfect. Hey, Caitlin, I'm gonna have to get the camp
down soon. I think I think I am.
Speaker 2 (35:57):
I think you might have to.
Speaker 1 (35:59):
I think I might have to get to camp now
I'm very very soon and catch up. Or like I
said in my message to you, I meant that if
you ever go have you been to Sydney.
Speaker 2 (36:08):
Before, Well, yes, I have been to Sydney. Yes, actually
I loved it.
Speaker 1 (36:15):
Yeah, well, so the office still stands. If you're ever
in Sydney, you know that you've got a place to stay,
and and and if you don't mind getting lost, because
I am totally a country person in the Sydney you know,
like I would happily show you around. It will be
the long way.
Speaker 2 (36:32):
Oh well that's okay, Yeah, excuse, excuse to miss my flight.
Do you know what?
Speaker 1 (36:39):
Trust me, it won't take much to miss a flight
these days.
Speaker 2 (36:42):
We will not know.
Speaker 1 (36:45):
Where. You've done a little bit of traveling, haven't you?
Speaker 4 (36:48):
Like?
Speaker 1 (36:48):
We're Yeah, I had some pretty cool holidays. Where have
you been.
Speaker 2 (36:52):
We've been to Sydney, We've been to America, We've been
to Queensland, We've been to Thailand. Yeah, yeah, all around
the world kind of thing.
Speaker 1 (37:07):
Pretty amazing. And did you did it? Was it something
with was it canteen or was it make a Wish
or someone like that? Did they get involved in one
of those trips or.
Speaker 2 (37:19):
I can't remember, wish we went to Queensland.
Speaker 1 (37:23):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, then mom and dad have organized the
rest far out. Yes, yeah, amazing.
Speaker 2 (37:31):
And you know some of those trips. Gotta love my men.
She's taken us on some of them. So she's been
a dream to me too.
Speaker 6 (37:43):
So yeah, do you know what, thank you for reminding
me because she's probably one of the best cooks in
town too, by the way, Yes, and again.
Speaker 1 (37:55):
She's been with you every step of the way, or
with the family every step of the way too.
Speaker 2 (38:00):
All right, definitely, she's been that every appointment and just
everything went on mine, well, she's just been the best man.
Speaker 1 (38:12):
Well, Caitlyn, we took a little while to connect, but
we got there, Yes we did. We got the zoo
to work. Thank you so much for joining us on
the Women of Influence podcast, and we'll look forward to
hearing mom's story two. Yes, thanks Caitlyn.
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