Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving.

What you have caught on film is captured forever... it remembers the little things, long after you have forgotten everything - Aaron Siskind

Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium - Dustin Hoffman

My name is Melissa, I live in beautiful Geelong, Australia with my husband of 10 years and my sweet animals! Maggie and Molly my adorable dogs and 4 silly chickens who think they are dogs! (Betty, Duckie, Miss Frannie and Lola)

Photography is a new hobby for me. and I'm absolutely loving every minute learn more about it!! I'm still very much a 'newbie' with my camera.

What makes me who I am...

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After years of working, loving & living full speed 24/7.. It all came to a screeching halt on 13 January 2005. An acute case of pancreatitis left me on life support, with little expectation of making it through the night. I was 36 years old.

The pancreas had swollen 4 times the natural size and cut the air flow to my lungs. I smothered, and quit breathing about 15 minutes after reaching the emergency room. My body (especially my fingers and toes) suffered nerve damage during the many attempts to revive me.. I underwent several procedures over the next few days in an attempt to get the blow flowing back into my lower limbs. Having been a smoker for 12 years - I had developed small vascular disease - which made it impossible for them to save my left foot..

The amazing team of doctors and nurses could not save my left foot We were presented by the surgeon(s) 3 or 4 places on my left leg they could do the apmputation.. Together, my husband and I decided on the one that would give me the greatest chance of walking properly - but it was also the one that gave me the least likely hood of success. I told them I must have angels on my shoulders to have made it that far - I just knew everything would be ok..

So, two weeks, and with only an epidural and mild sedative(s) my foot was amputated just above the left ankle. They were unable to put me to sleep because my body was so fragile from being on life support etc. The surgery went well, although I would strongly advise anyone needing the same surgery - beg them to put you to sleep. You don't want to hear what goes on during that! The da after the amputation I found myself back in ICU having lost too much blood.. I argued with them when they tried to give me someone else's blood.. I don't know why.. I just felt so weird.. they told me I'd die if I didn't do it.. so - of course I did it.

Two weeks later, I was tranferred to Grace McKellar Centre. I was determined to walk again - and in less than 3 weeks, I was up and learning how to walk with a new prosthetic foot. I was released from Grace a month of so later.

I spent most of 2005 in and out of the hospital and physiotherapy. When I finally came home to stay, in late 2005, it was a huge shock trying to adapt to my surroundings again, the pain that plagued me 24 hours a day and just life in general as an amputee. After months of trying to deal with the pain - I simply gave up. I was basically just waiting to die.

It wasn't until late 2007 that I picked up my camera again.. a hobby that I had just started to dabble in just months before that 'dreadful day' in Jan 2005. The camera and the new addition to the family - a chicken...who just 'showed up' in our backyard on Grand Final Day Nov 2007.. rekindled my soul! I am convinced it was fate that brought the old chicken to me..I simply adore her. Things started moving upward at that point.. I still live with chronic (sometimes debilitating) pain - that hasn't changed and probably never will.. What is changing is the way I 'm learning to deal with it and just get on with my life. I refuse to let it stop me from living - I was given a second chance..some people aren't so lucky.. and I was selfish to sit around wasting it!

So.. thats who I am.. Its why I babble, love orange jelly beans, cry, snort when I laugh, and always wear my heart on my sleeve.

I talk a lot..and do it loudly. My poor husband goes to work to get a break from me. I can't help it, I've been this way for 40 years.

I am always looking for more friends - you can never have too many of those!! so add me to your friends/contact list :)

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