Anita nursed me from 1985 to 1986, in Coffs Harbour Hospital to Sydney Hospital, when I finally got transferred to Sydney. I had eighteen major reconstruction operations on my left arm. Ten operations were under Anita’s care. I went off a cliff in a car and had my arm partially severed and crushed. (I wish Anita could have nursed me through the other eight operations.) I’m forty one now, but I was a young eighteen year old man when Anita was nursing me back to health. From a patient’s point of view, nothing was too little; nothing was too big in Anita’s terms. She loved her job. One time I had a tendon transfer, and, once again, I had an internal bleed in my arm. My arm swelled up and stated bursting stitches. Even though this happened around 8;00PM at night when Anita was due to “knock off”, Anita stayed back and walked my trolley into the operating theatre at 10:00Pm at night…just to make sure I was alright. A few months later, whilst I was recuperating at home, I heard over the radio (at 9:00AM) that a nurse by the name of Anita from Sydney had been murdered. I held my breath until the 5:00PM news came on……but when they put Anita’s photo up, I disappeared under a privet tree about a kilometer down the paddock to grieve by myself. Some time later, Garry rang me and asked if I would unveil a plaque in Anita’s memory at the Sydney Hospital Chapel. I agreed and that was the most humble and honourable commitment I have ever taken on in my life. Thank you Garry and Peg, and my best wishes to Kathryn and your family.
Dear Garry
Paul Burbidge Oct 10, 2008