#TeamNorthMid blogs

#ThisIsMe

“Obstacles are the cost of greatness and the only person you are destined to be is the person you decide to be”

Words by Caroline Kail

 

My name is Caroline, and I am a passionate nurse associate working in the Paediatrics Ocean Day Unit. I have been with North Mid for nearly a year. When I was invited to write for #ThisIsMe, I found it challenging to craft something engaging that would resonate with others.

My professional journey began in the health sector, starting with a fifteen-year career in the fitness industry. During that time, I collaborated with GPs and hospitals to offer re-enablement and post-cardiac rehab programs. After taking a career break to care for my medically unwell parents, I decided to shift my focus and pursue a new path in healthcare. Since then, I have worked for the NHS in various roles, including as a home help worker specialising in dementia care, a therapeutic radiographer, and a healthcare support worker, before embarking on the path to becoming a registered nurse associate.

Working at North Mid is incredibly fulfilling, but I’m also a proud parent of two wonderful children and a carer for my husband, a Paralympian who has represented Great Britain multiple times. Balancing my career and motherhood has been both challenging and rewarding, and I am deeply grateful for the support of my colleagues and the Trust.

In my free time, I love to travel and immerse myself in new places, cultures, and cuisines, creating lasting memories along the way. On a recent trip to Rhodes, I had the chance to try several sports I’ve always wanted to experience, including paddle tennis, winging, sea wakeboarding, sailing, mountain biking, and road cycling—something I hadn’t done since having my children.

Since receiving a bicycle through the Recirculate project in July 2024, I’ve rediscovered my love for cycling. It has helped calm my mind, improve both my mental and physical fitness, reduce commuting costs, lower my carbon footprint, and rekindle my passion for a sport I once enjoyed. Believe it or not, I used to compete in various triathlons and the occasional aquathlon.

I hope this piece encourages people to believe in their dream and strive to achieve it while remembering “Obstacles are the cost of greatness and the only person you are destined to be is the person you decide to be”.

 

We thank Caroline for taking part in our #ThisIsMe blog series which focuses on the incredible diversity of our workforce across North Mid, beyond the usual protected characteristics of age, disability, ethnicity, religious beliefs, gender, sex, and sexual orientation.

Please help us encourage colleagues to do the same by sharing this post.

Feel free to share any feedback or comments. If you wish to share your own story or think you know colleagues who might want to share their experiences about diversity, please contact our communications team @northmid.comms@nhs.net.