The Common Vein

September 2009

email

endo1@iinet.net.au

A brief history of the last 40 years

Date of birth 8/8/1952

Married to Barry Sandler

2 daughters : Marissa 31 and Lauren 27

Occupation: Medical Librarian

After school I went to Wits University and did a Bachelor of Arts with a Post Grad in Librarianship. I met my husband Barry in my last year at University and we got married in 1973. My first job as a librarian was at Wits medical School and that was the start of my career as a medical Librarian.

Tragedy struck our family in 1975 when my beautiful Mother whom we all so loved and adored died at the age of 49 after a heart valve replacement. It was the Chris Barnard team who operated on her at Groote Schuur in Cape Town but unfortunately the operation was not successful.. Our family was heart broken and my younger sister Joy was only 15 at the time. Happier times followed when my daughter Marissa was born. When Marissa was 2 we left South Africa and went off to Dallas Texas where Barry specialised in Endodontics. My second daughter Lauren was born in Texas . Once Barry completed his degree our little family packed up again and moved on to Sydney, Australia. My brother Allan had already been in Australia for a few years  and  had recently married an Australian girl. Over the next few years the rest of my family as well as Barry?s family joined us in Sydney. We have been so fortunate to have our families here with us and my girls have grown up with all their cousins.

 In my early days in Sydney, I completed a fitness leadership course and worked as a fitness and healthy life style instructor. After a few years I went back to University to upgrade my librarianship degree and then took a job as a medical librarian in one of the hospital libraries along the Northern Beaches of Sydney. I still enjoy my work especially the research, training and educational aspects of it. It has also allowed me a good work life balance which is important to me..

 My older daughter Marissa is a lawyer and has worked in human rights both here and overseas. My younger daughter Lauren did an Arts Commerce degree, worked in TV production and is now working in London in corporate responsibility . Both girls are very adventurous and have travelled extensively. They have produced and directed a documentary together on an orphanage in Cambodia and have submitted, it to a few film festivals.

In 2005 life threw one of those curved balls my way as I was diagnosed with a rare form of endometrial cancer. I felt as if I had been hit by a tsunami and difficult days followed. I have been one of the lucky ones and am eternally grateful that after surgery I made a complete recovery.  I have not looked back since.  The   experience reinforced for me what I always knew; that life is unpredictable and one must appreciate every moment.

 A new chapter in my life is looming over the horizon and there is much to look forward to: Our older daughter is married and is expecting a baby in November 2009. Our younger daughter has recently become engaged and will get married next October.

I have been so touched and inspired by the stories I have read on this website and the paths that people have taken in life.

 Thank you so much Ashley and the others who have put this website together,

 With love and best wishes to the class of 69

Illona