50 over 50 Project ~ Chapter Three ~ Sara

WHAT IS YOUR OCCUPATION? Unfortunately I had to give up work as my daughter has complex special needs, so I am a full time carer for her. She is now 25 . I used to be a Quality Manager for a manufacturing company, which involved writing procedures for manufacturing processes to comply with British and European Standards. . My husband is self employed and we also run an Airbnb (a bungalow next to ours), so I do all the bookings, and the accounts for both.

HOW OLD ARE YOU – AND WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT BEING YOUR AGE? 58. Knowledge is probably the only good thing. Everything else is wrinkles ha ha

WHAT HARDSHIPS HAVE YOU ENDURED THAT YOU FEEL HAVE MADE YOU FEEL STRONGER? When my daughter was diagnosed with Rett Syndrome I was devastated, but I turned that feeling into power and determination. Determination to research everything I could about it, and what to do to help her and get the best of everything she needed .
My cancer. In 2011 I was diagnosed with Laryngeal Cancer, and 2012 I had a total Laryngectomy which is removal of the voice box. I now speak through a voice prosthesis, which is quite gruff and not feminine. The treatment causes lots of problems with swallowing, and obviously speech, but I was determined that it would not go down the route of only eating mashed up food. It’s been a tough journey with several more major operations along the way, and I went though a period of 2 years with no voice at all, but I’m still here, and now advocate for other patients going through the start of this very tough journey

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER IS YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT? My daughter. Despite her problems Millie is a very happy, beautiful, young woman with a wicked sense of humour. Even though she is non-verbal she has her own ways of getting her point across.

Since having my operation, I started at what was then a new voice rehabilitation group. This soon formed into the only (I believe) Laryngectomy choir in the world. We have performed all over the country, and in some other countries too. There has also been a film made about the choir which very much focuses on myself and my husband at home, but also the build up to our biggest performance at The Tabernacle in London. We were encouraged to write poetry to express ourselves, and I wrote a poem called Can You Hear My Voice, performed at every concert we performed from the very beginning. It was also used as the title of the film., and I am very proud of it. My poem has also been put to music and is now an operatic Aria, and I performed it with an amazing Opera singer at Wigmore Hall in London.

WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF PERFECT HAPPINESS? I’m not sure there is such a thing as perfect happiness, as if there were then people wouldn’t have to suffer.

WHAT IS YOUR MOST TREASURED POSSESSION? My daughter, my husband, my family, my friends

WHAT’S LEFT ON YOUR BUCKET LIST? Well, I’ve performed at The Tabernacle & Wigmore Hall, amongst other places, had a movie made about me to which we attended the premiere at The Imax Cinema in London, and walked The Red Carpet. I’ve met The Black Eyed Peas. And, I’ve had a makeover and photo shoot at Symply Boudoir, so Hmmm what next ???

WHAT WAS YOUR GREATEST EXTRAVAGANCE? My photoshoot was quite extravagant for me. We don’t really have opportunities to be very extravagant for personal things. We were extravagant having enormous bifold doors on the back of our house so we can see our beautiful garden all the time.

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU WOULD CHANGE ABOUT YOURSELF? Ha ha . The obvious. Not having a hole in my neck, and having a voice that actually sounded female.

WHAT IS A TRAIT YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF?I think I’m quite witty!

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST FEAR?Drowning

WHAT DO YOU MOST VALUE IN YOUR FRIENDS? Loyalty

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR YOUNGER SELF?Always be yourself

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO OR FAVOURITE QUOTE? Not fragile like a flower, fragile like a bomb. (Frida Kahlo)

AND FINALLY…..HOW DID YOU FEEL AFTER YOUR 50 OVER 50 BOUDOIR SHOOT? Brilliant. Extremely uplifted. Thank you xx