[imperfect_cupcake]

My life has changed completely. Through greuling hard work (and of course privileges I have).
Four years ago I has beyond broke, working under the table 5000 miles from home because my visa had expired and the home office was dragging its heels so I lost my job with Thames Police. My then wife had run off with a 32 year old who made gobs of money. I was seeing a friend but she was suffering prett bad from undiagnosed mental health issues and I was one of the only support people she had.

I moved contients, lived in the basement of my mom's house for several months, took out a massive loan, went back to school, cracked my head and got a bad concussion, had to take a full term off but continued once it was healed.

It takes 1,500 credit hours in BC to get a BSc in health at uni over four years. I did a program that was 2,700 credit hours in three years. I didn't have time for a job. I had full time school, a practicum, outreach and case studies. I literally ate only flour and water (pancakes) sometimes for days. I developed IBS. Adrenal burn out. I had to sneak onto the train because I had no train fare about 60% of the time.

I graduated in December. I studied for 8-14 hours a day after that for my government board exams in March, when I finished my exams I couldn't celebrate I had to head straight to my mum's as she had been in the hospital while I was writing exams. I looked after her full time for six weeks.

I got notification that I passed my boards on April 28th!! Instead of celebrating I scrambled my ass off to get all the documentation I needed to certify and register to the government. It took another loan from some generous family people to register.

The day after my registration went through, on May 5th, I had a Locum (that's a temp health professional position) job at UBC treating athletes. It was brilliant!!

I started my permenant position this week. I work downtown, across the street from the downtown hospital, in one of the two huge medical buildings. I have an *office* with a fabulous clinic boss and brilliant colleagues. I got my business cards and my stamp last night and the big gold stamped certification came in the mail to hang on the office wall.

I am already booked at 75% after one week. :O

I have had people from the states and the island actually calling as of yesterday to come and see me (I work Saturdays). :O

After this first paycheque I will no longer have to worry about having something to eat the last 4 or five days of the month. I will no longer have to wear my mother's friends hand me downs and feel totally ashamed at how badly they fit and how awful they look on me because they are *70* years old and I'm 46.

I will be able to live on my own and not with two other people in a two bedroom apt.

I will be able to buy a *new* car soon.

I can pay off my debts.

I can put my name on housing co-ops downtown in amazing community based buildings.

I have a job I *love* going to work for.

Money may not buy "happiness" in some ways, but it's hard to be happy when you are freezing, hungry and unable to travel anywhere.

I am the most happy I have ever been in my life. I am content. And calm. And I have a career. It's been a blisteringly hard 4.5 years. But I made if from that girl weeping on the stairs because her wife fucked off, her visa expired and she had no way to pay rent and no local support, having nervous exhaustion and unable to eat - to here.

And I had a LOT of help. Massive love to those who know who they are xxxx