Cranford nurse 'a shining star in dark times'

WALK THE TALK: Person of the Year nominee Katie Durbin says her own brush with cancer has helped the way she works. PHOTO/WARREN BUCKLAND

Katie Durbin regularly works with people traumatised by cancer at Cranford Hospice but her own brush with the disease has changed her outlook and the way she works.

The clinical nurse specialist was diagnosed with breast cancer at the end of last year and had a double mastectomy in December, returning to work mid-January.

"It makes you realise how fragile and vulnerable you are - we all think we can trundle along and everything is all fine, and then you get everything whipped away from you in one second."

She now had a "whole different awareness" of her responsibility when people confided in her.

"People open up to you and tell you these really important fears or hopes that they have.

"You have to follow up on those conversations because you open up a rawness - people talk about their inner feelings and vulnerabilities in health.

"My own illness made me realise how you have to go back and return to those conversations, to acknowledge to that person how important they are.

"People spoke with me about things and when I saw them again they never went back to that. It made me feel really sad because I thought, gosh we had such a good conversation before when I really opened up but now it is like we have just gone straight back to being strangers. That made me feel sad."

Eight people wrote to Hawke's Bay Today nominating her for the 2016 Hawke's Bay Today Person of the Year.

Roger Parr said Ms Durbin put her life on hold to help her sister get through her cancer before discovering she also had it.

He said she sailed through cancer with an honest attitude, no self pity or feeling that it wasn't fair.

"Whatever you are facing in life it is better if Katie is there with you," he said.

"A shining star in dark times."

Her own husband Steve Evans kept his nomination secret, as did all other nominators.

"A blend of supporting the community during the most difficult times of life coupled with being personally affected by the condition that so many people in her care die from, yet choosing to not only continue to provide that care but return to work after six weeks to enhance that care to our rural community, is why we think Katie is worthy of consideration for this award," Mr Evans said.

"During the course of this year has not only maintained her nursing role, but taken on new responsibilities in building up palliative care services in Central Hawke's Bay by increasing visits there and working with the district nurses and GP in the region."

Paediatrician and former children's commissioner Russell Wills said she was a worthy recipient of the award.

"Katie has that rare blend of deep, expert knowledge in her area of specialty, profound compassion for the people she cares for, and servant leadership," he said.

"Katie leads by example and sets high standards that inspire her colleagues in nursing and medicine. Her patients are supported through unimaginable trauma and grief with compassion and care, which I've seen professionally and in the care of my own family."

Dr Lynn Twigley said facing personal adversity bravely and returning to work within weeks to support others "is something I think few people would achieve with such grace".