20/12/2021
Thank you ...... you may want a cuppa, it's a story of a thank you and Christmas wish ☺️
I am incredibly grateful and humbled for the journey over the last seven years ..... reflecting how Merakai clinic has grown, and the number of clients we have helped, cared for and nurtured during their fertility, pregnancy and postnatal journey.
During my own journey with fertility, pregnancy and being a new mum (three times) I kept feeling there has to be a better way for mums to experience this journey, through caring and nurturing touch and environment a mum could be taken away from pressures and for a short amount of time feel like she was in a bubble in a clinic who really understood what she was going through and how she was feeling. With my own infertility and miscarriages, unfortunately my last two pregnancies were filled with a lot of anxiety, some days fear, and it wasn't until I met my babies it went away. My own postnatal period was not easy - nine months of anxiety followed with newborn sleeplessness really is a recipe for quite a lot of days where I was exhausted and feeling like I wasn't doing a very good job.
Over the first few years after my youngest was born, I kept thinking what I needed from a clinic space that would really support a woman. What training would I need to provide the next level of remedial massage care to a woman on this journey. There were a lot of thought bubbles, of what I felt was missing, what parts I loved, other practitioners I knew offering exceptional service, and I started to create my business. I started with training having to redo my remedial massage qualifications, and during this time I met Catherine McInerney from pregnancy massage Australia and it was the exact course I needed to do.
In August 2016 I was ready to try to make a stay-at-home-mum life blend with creating a small business. I plugged away in a room off my house, then met Matt and Marilyn renting one-day a week at a Vive.
Life is a journey, meeting life-changing people along the way.
Catherine (PMA) offering me the QLD lecturing role was an incredible honour, knowing how much PMA is an extension of Catherine and her passion for maternity care. The confidence it gave me, combined with the skillset and depth of knowledge provided the base to grow a wide network of like-minded practitioners in allied health, and network with obstetric and midwifery care.
Matt and Marilyn, owners of Vive, are two of the most supporting, caring friends (& landlords) I have had the pleasure of meeting. The support and care they have provided since 2016, particularly the last two years with covid has been immeasurable. Their team of practitioners are the best in Brisbane, I am grateful for the client care and friendship.
My staff who have joined me on this journey, are exceptional. I am grateful they have equal passion, and have extended the nurturing care to clients as I wanted, so the care at Merakai was the same whichever therapist a client saw.
Clients, some wonderful, incredible, and life-changing conversations have happened meeting you. So many conversations, laughs, hugs, and tears have happened in the clinic rooms. You have helped me as much as I have helped you.
Life is a journey, with many chapters. Although a chapter in my journey has seen me take a different direction back into project management, and sadly see the clinic doors under Merakai close, my passion for maternity care is immense as many know, and I look forward to finding ways to be involved on some level to improve maternity care in Brisbane.
I cannot thank everyone who has been a part of the Merakai clinic journey enough. There have been a lot of talking, laughing and yes crying with happiness and sadness, and I will be forever grateful for this chapter in my journey.
Renata and Miz, both exceptional therapists and people, will be back in the Vive clinic in January to continue their nurturing care for clients in remedial and pregnancy care.
Thank you again for supporting Merakai Therapies. Wishing you all a very merry Christmas and a new year filled with love and laugher surrounded by family and friends.
Yours in health
Jodie
