Climbing in Heels
Written by Jill Drury, Pharm.D., MBA
The value of hope. There are so many stories to tell. Join Jill Drury and she shares her next instalment on “the value of hope – climbing in heels”
Ernest Hemingway said that the most interesting people we encounter in life are often those who have walked through fire. The ones who faced defeat, endured pain, struggled with hardship and experienced loss in ways that most of us can scarcely comprehend. Yet, it is through these trials and tribulations that strength emerges—not the kind that can be seen on the surface, but the kind that radiates from deep within. This is no secret to anyone living with or caregiving for someone with a rare disease.
The art of resilience is delicate. Sensitive. The most interesting people often know what it’s like to be broken, to feel lost and to question everything they once believed. They are the ones who channel Marcus Aurelius every morning and rise again from those warm, comfortable and safe covers. They emerge stronger and more empathetic. They are brave and hopeful as they continue their journey into the unknown. It is this journey that shapes their hearts with that unparalleled sensitivity. Having experienced suffering, they possess an extraordinary capacity for compassion.
Climbing in Heels
She will never forget what it was like to be sitting on a plane, feeling trapped. Her stomach pain and cramping so gnawing, and yet invisible to other passengers. The seatbelt light illuminated. Worried about drawing attention and desperately trying not to make facial expressions. Closing her eyes and trying to take deep breaths. Calm, but panicked on the inside. Her heart was racing, and she could feel each tick tock on her watch as the plane finally descended.
When she deplaned, she already knew. It wasn’t going to be positive. Holding back tears, she made it to the closest ladies’ room inside the busy airport. She was now completely alone, in a sterile stall. She finally allowed herself to burst into tears. She saw it was real. The planned future was gone. She was now being forced down an unexpected and unwanted fork in the road. Knowing that she had to leave that stall, she collected herself and bravely walked to retrieve her luggage at baggage claim.
The taxi driver she flagged down on her way to her meeting smiled and asked about her flight. “It was fine,” she replied with sadness in her heart, knowing no one would ever know the pain that radiated through her body and mind. She would not carry a child again.
Vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (vEDS) is a rare genetic disorder that can increase the risk of miscarriage and other pregnancy-related complications due to the fragility of the uterus and blood vessels. The genetics were not in her favour. But she was proactive and the doctors said it was worth the risk. That it would be ok. Fate had other plans. It wasn’t in her control.
What was in her control was opening up that stall, getting in the taxi, putting on her heels and climbing that imaginary ladder all women must climb to win a seat at the table. Trying to not show emotion that her male colleagues wouldn’t understand or support.
Weakness was not an option for a woman choosing to climb in heels. She never told anyone about her day, and no one asked. That is until she talked to a local pharmacist. She needed a recommendation for the pain and as the pharmacist talked and asked questions, she slowly opened up. She didn’t want advice; she had a whole care team at home. She didn’t want an “I’m sorry.” She really just sought compassion and someone to listen. The pharmacist reached for her hand and she took it. They squeezed each other’s hands and simply looked each other in the eye. They agreed. It just sucked. She smiled and turned away knowing tomorrow would be a new day. The value of hope.
She reached out to that pharmacist as a vEDS advocate later on in life. The power of social media and finding interesting people. And now she is providing awareness and hope to others.
About Jill:
As a pharmacist by trade, I have been an inventor and an entrepreneur my whole life. Long gone are the days of independent corner drugstores, but working in one as a teenage girl inspired and shaped me in so many ways. I was constantly challenged and encouraged by managers and mentors to use and leverage my creative abilities to further my career path. Whether it was increasing patient satisfaction or negotiating contracts over soda and candy sales, every challenge that I faced in my pharmacy career taught me something new.
In business school, I continued to grow my skill set to collaborate with diverse groups of people all over the world. I have helped negotiate, innovate, and streamline drug dispensing mechanisms. I have published and worked to enhance public awareness and outreach around numerous industry and health-related topics.
Relaying valuable resources and knowledge to providers across the globe has become the compass of my mission. To gain the necessary perspective and foundation, I have listened carefully to the stories and concerns of the patients who are the very reason why we strive for excellence. They are the ultimate destination in my profession. It is for the patient that we aim to maximise value – value in accessing medications and quality of care that will extend their lives.
