For Cathy Bennett, Remembrance Day is a time to reflect on an experience that shaped not only her nursing career, but also her work today as a manager with Fraser Health’s Well Connected at Home program.
In 1991, Cathy deployed to Saudi Arabia as a reservist nursing officer with the UK Armed Forces during the First Gulf War. Working in a conflict zone meant caring for soldiers with serious physical injuries while navigating long hours, uncertainty and frequent air raid warnings.
“You never knew what the next day, or the next hour would bring,” says Cathy. “One of the greatest challenges was supporting soldiers experiencing psychological trauma. There is no way I could have done this on my own.”
In a rapidly changing and highly stressful environment, teamwork, says Cathy, was key. Listening to colleagues, learning from different perspectives and working toward a common purpose helped Cathy and her colleagues adapt their care to meet the needs of the soldiers they supported.
“I worked in very tight quarters, so everything had to be done collaboratively to ensure soldiers had wrap-around, in-the-moment care,” she says.
Today, Cathy brings her experience to her role as a manager with Fraser Health’s Well Connected at Home initiative.
Cathy believes her time in the war zone gave her a better appreciation of the importance of supporting one another and what people can accomplish when they work toward a common goal.
“Remembrance Day is a time to honour those who served and reflect on the experiences that shape us,” says Cathy. “My service taught me that resilience comes from supporting one another and working together through difficult times. 35 years later, that lesson continues to guide me today.”
