Like mother…Like midwife – Susan Joan King

Susan Joan King

Like mother…Like midwife

Words cannot adequately express how blessed I was to have Sue with me when my sons were born. I doubt that I would have been as calm as I was if she were not there with me. I speak from personal experience and I can confidently say that Sue is possibly the best midwife you will ever find anywhere. Not to mention that she is one of the best in our country, and I know that those who have had her by their side will most definitely agree.

I share with you my personal experience in the hope to share with you all how truly wonderful Sue is and what she means to me and I am sure to many other women as well.

My second son was born in July 2016, something that is forever etched in my memory was the way that Sue encouraged and motivated me during my labour, like a mother who always has your corner and no matter how low you feel, she always manages to make you believe in yourself again. This will forever stay with me because her courage and her love for what she does made up for how unwell and iffy she felt. Prior to the birth of my son, I’d been going to Sue for my antenatal check-ups but one particular check-up in March 2016, I could see she was not quite her usual cheerful self. It was then that she told me that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer, but she calmly reassured me that she was going for chemotherapy and that she was going fight the big C tooth and nail.

She was scheduled for 6 chemo sessions (the Red Devil), which were on Tuesdays after the 2nd one they couldn’t find any traces of cancer but she still saw all 6 chemo sessions through and thus bringing the completion of the Red Devil journey. After the first week of chemo, she started to feel less and less like normal, who could blame her? Because chemo is not the friendliest medicine on the human body. I went into labour on Saturday evening (a little after week her second to last chemo session), I remember feeling so terrible knowing that she had to come out all the while feeling terrible from all chemo coupled with the stress of moving to a new home. I stand at a loss for words every time I try and to express how fortunate I was to have at my side during my labour and the birth of my son.

After my son was safely earth side, I went to the midwife’s tearoom to ask them something and was beyond surprised to the lovely Sue still there. I asked her why she hadn’t gone home and her response was that another one of her mom’s was in labour. As horrid and exhausted as I could see she felt, she was still there doing what she loves and does best… being the most amazing, caring, loving and supportive midwife-mom.

I must just add that I lost my mother after birth of my first son some years back and having Sue with me at the birth of my second son was like having my mom there with me. Sue just has this uncanny ability to calm my very anxious soul and ease every fear I had am I am convinced that many more will tell you that she has the same effect on them.

Sue had her last chemo session on 20 July 2016 and 6 weeks later was booked for a mastectomy as well as reconstruction. The surgery site went septic twice and even that never got her down.

She kept her word, she fought the cancer and conquered the beast and fought every negative effect that came thereafter. She also received radiation treatment after the surgery and still she kept going, her passion for what she does and her love for every mother that she helps and knowing that there was so much more she had left to do kept her fighting.

She got declared cancer free some months later and the joy I felt as well as many others when she shared the news was inexplicable. She did it, she won…

On the 1st of August 2017, I did as usually do when I have a spot of time and quickly browsed through my Facebook newsfeed only to be shocked to my core when I read what Sue had posted on her Facebook!

I didn’t want to believe it, I couldn’t believe it, I even argued with God about how wrong this was, how unfair it was, why does she have to go through this again, why Sue? She has done so much good for so many, giving desperate woman much needed hope for the birth they desired, making sure every child was brought into this world safe and happy… Why just why?

Below is the message that pierced my soul and crushed my heart to pieces.

Message from SUE

To all my gorgeous family, friends, and clients. I have been suffering with really intense headaches for a while now and it started affecting my speech. So I have been admitted for further investigations.

Very sadly I have been diagnosed with brain cancer! I am working very closely with my oncologist to come up with the best treatment plans going forward and I intend to fight this with everything I have, just as I did last year!

I am asking everyone to please give me and my family space to accept and come to terms with everything and to try keep the questions to a minimum, we will update you as we feel ready via Facebook.

Also to all my beautiful clients, please know that I have 2 brilliant and capable midwives & Shannon Roach, my assistant, that work with me and they will be continuing to run my practice for me until I come back to work.

Please keep us close in comfort and prayer...

Sue has been through so much and is still facing impossible odds which she is determined to conquer. She is not working now which depresses her spirit and adds to her stress. As I mentioned before, she is absolutely passionate about her Midwifery and this has been taken from her. She is both a Mother and a Grandmother and the financial strain that her not working is putting her under is enough to break even the stoutest of souls.

Many a time I have wondered how could I ever thank this amazing woman for being by my side and making sure I have a safe and still wonderful birth with my children. Now I finally feel like I can do something in return for all that she has done for me personally and that I believe she is yet to do for many more.

I have started this fundraiser to help ease the financial burden off her shoulders. There is a hefty portion of her medical bills from last year that are still outstanding and there will be more bills to come.

I humbly appeal to all of you to please help Sue with whatever you can so that we can remove the financial burden from her shoulders and help her conquer the cancer beast once more.

Thank you all in advance.

Facebook page for Sue: www.facebook.com/SueKingMidwife/