Why Moon River Turkey ?
Why have I named my business Moon River Turkey? Well, that’s a story and a half!
I had no idea how holding onto those words for many years would be so relevant, and so freeing to finally release them into a purposeful business.
A bit of scene setting is needed first, I need to get the facts right.
The year is 1993.
I’m 22 years old, and life’s taken a turn for the worst.
In a period of five weeks…
Five months pregnant, I am sexually assaulted by a doctor during an unnecessary internal examination – I tell no one, I’m so ashamed that I couldn’t stop this invasion.
Within 10 days, I develop severe Pre-Eclampsia.
My first baby Chelsea is still born, my now ex-husband and I bury her.
I feel like I didn’t protect our baby, and that I am to blame for her still-birth.
I wonder how to go on.
I feel like I didn’t protect our baby, and that I am to blame for her still-birth.
I wonder how to go on.
A week after we bury Chelsea, I go on to have a major brain stem stroke, which means walking, talking, eating and so much more has been affected.
I’m not in a very good spot – But I still turn up in my days of rehab, giving my all to whatever is put in front of me.
TESTING IN REHAB
I’m a bit apprehensive as the day begins, after being informed I need to do a neuropsychology test. Feeling myself resist the thought of my abilities being tested, I immediately begin to hold onto me internally, as I am asked questions which don’t seem relevant to my situation at all. It’s like my brain is on fire as I try to take in instructions to complete puzzles and riddles, remember lists of words.
I wonder why I am being asked to do these tests when no one is providing any comfort to me or to us as a young couple who have just buried our baby. I have already surrendered to the fact that I will die one day, and no one will ever know what the doctor did to me.
But never one to not give my full effort to anything, I try my hardest in those tests, visualizing three specific words from the list of words given to me. They swim around in my head for years and years after these events.
Moon – because I was picturing my brain as a full, luminous moon.
River – in that brain moon of mine, I was picturing rivers of blood flowing smoothly.
Turkey – because right then – I felt like such a turkey.
I didn’t do very well in those tests, I wondered what predictions and assumptions were being made of me. I didn’t really care what other people thought, I knew me, I knew how strong I was.
Between 1993 and 2016, I lived, loved, laughed and cried my way through life. Having three more children, studying, working and living life with compassion and purpose. And I thought I was doing a pretty good job……. considering my past.
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT
A red spot appeared on my lower calf after a shed clean out during the week between 2015 and 2016 – prime holiday time, and we were cleaning out the back shed as a family!
Wondering if I’d been bitten by something, or if the red spot could be something more sinister – like a DVT – I sat on the bed after showering, wondering what to do with my concern. Deciding to call a health line to explain my symptoms, I felt a bit foolish – was I making a mountain out of nothing? The health consultant listened to me and considering my history, it was suggested I go to the hospital to rule out anything suspicious.
At hospital I explained my concern, I gave my history apprehensively. I never knew how I would be received by the health system once I mentioned I’d had a brain injury. As I was asked if I had any residual side-effects from that time. Taking a deep breath, I explained that although I lived a good life, it had been a difficult one. Memories of everything from that time, including the incident of sexual assault by the doctor were never far away.
Feeling deflated that I’d been so easily upset at this question, I sat in the waiting room and googled “stroke support”. I was immediately directed to a website, called EnableMe. This Website had been developed by The Stroke Foundation with survivors in mind. I immediately made a post explaining how many years it had been since my stroke, why I was at the hospital at this moment, and how I still felt sensitive when asked questions about my stroke. I asked how other people reacted to such questions.
It was a few days before I got a response, due to the Christmas Holidays. My question hadn’t really been answered, but it was a beginning to a connection back to 1993, just like that made.
Revisiting that time again brought up so much STUFF for me. I continued on, looking at how I might make a difference in the big picture of stroke. I could see so much disconnect, and it made me sad!
But all this really doesn’t answer WHY my business is called “Moon River Turkey”.
THE PHONE CALL
I was contacted by David Lawson from Melbourne. David wanted to tell me about a study he was conducting – a memory skills study he was putting together for stroke survivors. I have to say I was not very impressed about getting a phone call from a random stranger wanting me to be a guinea pig for his study. It screamed to me a reminder of those horrible Neuropsychology tests I’d once done in Rehab. But David continued to talk to me, explaining why he was so passionate about his study. He had experienced a stroke when he was young, at 19 years old in 1995, two years after mine! I sat down at the kitchen table, very focused on our conversation! And David was obliging in giving me some detail surrounding his stroke.
But this didn’t necessarily mean I was going to be a part of the study; both my ex-husband and I were working full time, had a house with 3 teenagers, life was busy. I just didn’t have time to be in his study. I said sorry, I’d love to, but now wasn’t the right time.
Fast forward a couple of years, circumstances changed. David contacted me again when he found out I’d left work, and I agreed to be a part of his study. Our meetings were to take place via Zoom.
In that first zoom meeting after introductions were made, David asked if I had any questions, I replied yes.
“So, David, on that list of words, which I know you have there...”, I smiled and laughed at the possibility of those three words being on his list.
“Yes” he replied.
“Do you have ‘Moon River Turkey?’” I asked smiling broadly.
David blinked rather rapidly, before replying
“Well…. Yes….. huh that’s never happened before!”
We laughed at the fact that this was a memory skills study, and I was recalling words from a list I had been given after major brain trauma over 20 years ago. David mentioned he’d need to speak to his supervisor about using that same list. I sat, quietly chuffed at my current memory skills, wondering if somehow other bits and pieces from that time would air themselves – now I had made a connection to that time of my life. Thinking particularly of the doctor incident, I breathed heavily at the thought of this coming to the surface.
Me with David Lawson 2018
https://youtu.be/mzhV4jww658
Click on this link to view my 20 minute Presentation at the Bridging The Continuum Conference for Stroke at the International Convention Centre in Sydney in 2018
MOON RIVER TURKEY is a WHOLE BRAIN JOURNEY.
Welcome to my story……….