‘This is a job you treasure… every day is an honour’
DEBBIE RIPLEY, 49, LIVES IN SUDBURY, DERBYSHIRE, WITH HER HUSBAND, MICHAEL
Asa girl, I spent countless hours in the back of my mum’s car listening to Jimmy Young on Radio 2 as she did her community nursing rounds. Mum loved her job, but like most kids, I recoiled against every early suggestion she made that I should follow her lead.
So, I trained as a chef and got married in my early 20s and we had three gorgeous girls. Amy, our eldest, was diagnosed with a heart condition, then Chloe was born with Down’s syndrome.
This meant I had to spend the best part of a month in hospital, praying by their beds that we’d make it home.
Seeing the limitless love and dedication that the nurses showed us changed my mind.
Mum had been right all along – this was a job you could treasure.
I started working as a healthcare assistant in 1999 and when Mum retired, she looked after the children so I could do my nurse training in 2002.
After I qualified, I started off at the National Spinal Injuries Centre in Stoke Mandeville Hospital, and while it was hard work, I knew what Mum had been talking about all those years – the sense of reward you feel, the connection you make with so many people.
Every day is a privilege and honour.
Eventually, I moved to palliative care, which I found equally rewarding, then I moved into management at Marie Curie, London, and I still do regular clinical work in the wards and the community.
Of course, like my mum did to me, I constantly told my daughters about how much I loved my job, how they should become nurses, but they reacted exactly the same as I did. So when Amy changed tack, I gave her the biggest hug.
I guess looking after people is just in our DNA. I’m so proud of Mum and Amy and all of the wonderful things they’ve done over and people they’ve helped.
It really is a wonderful career!