After the birth of her first child and only in her mid-30s, Gold Coast local Debra Balhatchet faced the unimaginable diagnosis of a brain tumour. Get It Magazine’s Holly Bartter sits down with Debra to learn how this moment changed the trajectory of her life forever, and how she used this news to galvanize her travels around the globe as well as a new take on life.
Can you share with us what your life was like when your brain tumour was discovered?
I was 34 and pregnant with my first child. I was running a new Subway business with my then husband, being mum to my amazing step kids and busy with the business of being pregnant.
I started having problems with the feeling in my face and the hearing in my ear. It wasn’t until after I gave birth that it got really bad.
At first I went off to my GP and he referred me to a neurologist in Southport – his response was ‘things happen when you’re pregnant’ and ‘you’re probably hormonal and stressed’. Then he ordered an MRI to be done after I had given birth, but things got so bad that I brought the appointment forward and had one 2 weeks before giving birth.
What was your reaction to the diagnosis at that moment?
Finding out was horrible – the radiologist’s first question was “Do you have private health cover?” and it just went downhill from there. It sounds crazy but looking back I remember it felt like the doctor just told me “Do not pass go, do not collect $200”. I was fit, I was healthy, I was in my 30s not 80s! My parents were amazing and have continued to be. My mum did all the hard work with my newborn and night feeds – I was put straight into hospital.
When did you get the travel bug and start exploring the world?
I’ve always loved to travel even prior to my brain tumour – I did really well with a property I had bought and sold plus I had broken up from a serious relationship so I thought “That’s it, I’m going to see the world!” The travel bug continued after my diagnosis (although I couldn’t travel for some time after my operation, it really knocks you about), and now I’ve visited as many different countries for as many years as I am old. I’m now over 40 and have visited over 40 countries!
As soon as I felt up to it, I took my kids to Europe for a month and it really helped me feel like the old me again. I am so blessed to have such a small bucket list because I really don’t know how long the bucket will last. Both travelling and medical dramas have really, really opened my eyes to what is important in life and changed the path of my future.
What is your advice to other women facing serious health issues?
I want other women to know they should trust their bodies. They know them. They live in them 24/7 – sometimes we can be hormonal – but we’re not stupid. Of course, in the wise words of Dory “Just keep swimming!”. Some days are tough and we can’t say a way out, but you’ve got this.
How is your health today, and what keeps you putting one foot in front of the other?
Health today is a challenge – my next surgery date is in May – thankfully not brain surgery, just fixing something else that went wrong as a result of a stroke after the brain surgery. I’ll be
clocking up the visits at the hospital for the next little while – but that’s ok, I’m still here and that’s what matters most.
It’s often a very silent struggle – I never like to admit how broken I actually am, but that’s just my personality, I’m a fighter and a winner. Winning in my own eyes, that is! I don’t have a flash car or a waterfront house, but I have the love of my kids (step and biological), the love of my parents and the most beautiful friends possible.
