a giraffe called neo
DESCRIPTION
A Giraffe Called Neo is about Allison's personal struggle following the spontaneous birth of her son at just 28 weeks gestation and her battle with postnatal depression. She believes her depression was a direct result of the ensuing emotional trauma that came with having a prematurely born baby.Spending the first 91 days of her son's life in a neonatal unit was the opposite of what she had been anticipating. A Giraffe Called Neo documents this time in searingly honest detail.Allison hopes the book will provide a voice for all women and mothers, and help eradicate the social stigma that surrounds postnatal depression. She hopes to offer inspiration to those suffering from it - so that they might have the courage to accept, embrace and conquer their own depression without fear of reprisal.TRANSCRIPT
About the Author
Allison Schleef was born, raised and lives in Mount Gambier
(home of the world famous Blue Lake) in South Australia,
Australia. After twenty-three years of working in the hospitality
industry as a chef, Allison is enjoying her new role of stay at
home mum; which also now gives her time to indulge in her small
hobby business ‘Little Treasures By Allison’. Sharing a mutual
passion for Jack Russell Terriers with her husband, they are active
within the JRTCA and Allison is a state representative for, and a
long serving member of, the JRTCA’s national committee.
This book is dedicated to my Son…
…My Inspiration and reason for Being; and my greatest achievement to date.
Finally, I know the meaning of Life.
XXXX
And to my dad…
My Hero, My Guiding Light XXX
And also my husband…
…For Better, For Worse XX
ALSO,
I would like to share the love with every mumma
Who has gone through a premature birth / neonatal
journey,
As well as those mummas weathering their own
personal storm.
A G I R A F F E C A L L E D N E O
Copyright © Allison Schleef (2015)
The right of Allison Schleef to be identified as author of this work
has been asserted by her in accordance with section 77 and 78 of
the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any
form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the
publishers.
Any person who commits any unauthorized act in relation to this
publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims
for damages.
A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British
Library.
ISBN 978 1 78455 838 3 (Paperback)
ISBN 978 1 78455 839 0 (Hardback)
www.austinmacauley.com
First Published (2015)
Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd.
25 Canada Square Canary Wharf
London
E14 5LB
Printed and bound in Great Britain
Acknowledgements/Honourable Mentions:
A shout out must go to these people who directly or indirectly had something to do with either helping me through one of the most trying times in my entire life, or had something to do
with my vision and inspiration of A GIRAFFE CALLED NEO…
My husband Paul – for standing by me, even after seeing
me at my worst. To the endless rotation of NICU Nurses and Paediatric
Consultants and Neonatologists at Flinders – without you all,
my Son would not be. All my Neonatal ‘Sisters from another Mister’ – but
especially Natalie, Kirsty, Tashii, Sharni, and Karri Anne; for their ongoing friendship.
Ange – my devoted sister, for all her kindred support.
Jen – my ‘Sanity Saviour’ while we were in Flinders, now my admired advocate for Premature Birth Support.
My mum and dad – for their devoted and unwavering
benevolence when I needed it the most. Marie – who never once doubted my prose and
capabilities. Sarah - my unassuming late night shoulder to cry on. Rob – THE “Legend” of Daddy’s Little Legend, and a true
inspiration to me. And to the Austin Macauley Board of Editors and my
Publishing Consultant – for this incredible opportunity.
Thank you, One and All. XXXX
“The darkest hour is just before
the Dawn” − Thomas Fuller.
(Meaning: There IS Hope, even in the worst circumstances ….)
“IF I SAID TO YOU RIGHT NOW, THAT YOU HAVE POST-NATAL DEPRESSION – HOW DOES THAT MAKE
YOU FEEL?”
This was a question posed to me by my Doctor.
I sat there for a while, thinking about it. I’d heard the
whispers about women with PND. I knew of the stigma attached to it. So being told point blank by my trusted health professional that it was in HER medical opinion that I was
indeed suffering from it – how DID I feel, exactly?
Did I feel like the cliché – dirty and tainted? No.
Did I feel embarrassed or ashamed? No.
There was only one thing I was feeling at that particular moment – and it was overwhelming and suffocating. I felt
BROKEN. Beaten down. But also, oddly, at the same time I felt relieved. Relieved that the helplessness and despair I was feeling actually had a name; that there was a valid reason. That
I WASN’T going insane.
Let me introduce myself.
My name is Allison, and I have medically diagnosed
Postnatal Depression.
There. It’s out.
It does not mean I am a nutter. I am an ordinary woman; a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother. I don’t feel embarrassed to admit my condition. Nor do I feel ashamed by it. In fact – I
feel COMPELLED to talk about it, discuss it; because from what I have experienced – and are still going through; I hope
to give others comfort and strength, and, through my writing I also hope to better understand it myself, what it IS I am going through; and to hopefully educate mainstream society and
create more public awareness and greater acceptance; and put an end to the ignorance.
This book is in no way a medical journal. And I point out
right here and now – I am no expert on the subject. I have never professed nor pretended that I am, and I didn’t write this
book to be viewed upon as a Guide; however – I DID write it for the edification of others, for the empowerment and personal improvement it may give. I am honestly, openly and
humbly sharing my OWN thoughts, feelings, perceptions and opinions based on my OWN experience and personal battle with PND; with the goal of my voice being heard on behalf of
all women everywhere.
Statistics are that 1 in 7 mums are diagnosed with
medically recognisable Postnatal Depression, and it’s indiscriminate where and who it strikes. There are a range of factors that can trigger PND – Biological, Psychological and
Sociocultural; and sometimes, if you’re lucky, there is a catalyst, a KNOWN reason; but for the majority of the time, there is no known reason. It just IS.
But contrary to popular belief, Postnatal Depression is NOT a dirty word.
There is so much negative and unfounded stigma
associated with PND, and sadly – UNFAIRLY – women are made to feel like it’s some sort of shameful secret and Taboo
subject that should not be spoken about; much less admitted to suffering from it; lest you be shunned by society and labelled.
Most women suffering with PND are, on the outside,
perfectly NORMAL. That is, for the most part, means that we
function quite well in public and even play nicely with others! HOW ABOUT THAT?!
We are women who pay the bills. Do the grocery
shopping. We run errands. Chauffer the kids around town. Yes! We can drive a CAR! We put the daily meals on the
table, and ensure the clothes on our family’s backs are clean.
We vote. We go to work. Yes – some of us even have JOBS!
We can also hold a meaningful and coherent conversation. And that lady flashing the mega-watt smile that seems to have it all? The one you always secretly aspire to BE like? Guess
What? SHE has PND!! Now WHO would have thought it, huh? And yet – she’s still HER; someone that you, and all
those around her, admire.
So you see – having PND, whilst being a medically recognised condition, DOESN’T mean you are a crazy lady.
And, depending on your own personal views of public disclosure; doesn’t mean you have to keep your condition a secret. Agreed, in absolute extreme cases it can be severely
debilitating; but the good news is – it CAN be effectively treated and managed, and the sooner the diagnosis, the earlier
the treatment and faster the recovery.
Postnatal Depression is more prevalent than most would care to realise. And I dare say, There are a lot of women out
there who are undiagnosed as such and struggling from day to day, due largely to not knowing in the first instance how to recognise it; and then not knowing where to go from there,
because they want to keep it to themselves out of fear of perceived repercussions – and from fear of being socially ostracised. I think it’s absolutely abhorrent the way
mainstream society have shaped the way most women are made to feel about Postnatal Depression, all because it falls
into the category of ‘Mental Health’. It is the ignorant and the uneducated that shun such a condition; and human nature that singles out and highlights with ridicule and malice, that of
which we don’t fully understand. This ignorance dates back to