Member's Spotlight

Jane and her Hotelduvan Camper Van

Hi, I’m a midlife, happily married, and mum to two incredible adult children. Life has thrown me a few curveballs... OK, maybe more than a few, but I’m still standing, smiling (most days), and deeply grateful for the journey.

Back in my 30s, I was your classic fitness enthusiast, think leg warmers, high-energy aerobics classes, and that unbeatable post-workout buzz. Health and movement were a big part of my life. But things took a sharp turn after the birth of my second child.

Both of my births were challenging, but the second one was… traumatic, to put it mildly. A mismanaged delivery by a Senior Registrar led to a cascade of complications. Wrong forceps, misused ventouse, and during the emergency c-section, a surgical error caused a torn bladder, a detached urethra, a separated artery from my womb, and, believe it or not, that was just the beginning. My son had to be rushed to ICU, and I was put under general anaesthetic before I could even see him. I ended up in an induced coma after multiple surgeries, including a hysterectomy, bladder repair, and 13 pints of blood transfused. My bladder now works at 30% capacity; what a souvenir, right?

Seven years later, scar tissue from all that trauma twisted around my bowel, triggering yet another emergency surgery. The antibiotics I was given afterward left me with tinnitus, vertigo, and hearing loss... just to keep things interesting.

Despite all this, I consider myself incredibly lucky. I have a loving family, two healthy kids, and a deeper understanding of what true wellness means. I’ve been on HRT for 20 years, and I’m a big believer in listening to our bodies, advocating for ourselves, and sharing our stories, especially as women in midlife. Our experiences may bend us, but they don’t break us. They shape us into fierce, resilient versions of ourselves.

I’m here at Yaraglow to connect, learn, share, and hopefully inspire. If you’ve walked a difficult path too, whether physically, emotionally, or both, know you’re not alone. Healing isn’t always linear, but together, we glow brighter.

Let’s lift each other up, share the hard-earned wisdom, and keep moving forward, maybe not in leg warmers this time, but definitely with strength and grace.

Jane x