Grace in the interruption!
Week 30 has come and gone, leaving us with just five days left for July 2026 (at the time of writing this), it feels as though we’ve lived through an entire year—and then some.
Anyway, the other week, I – came across and – was truly encouraged by this insight from James Clear, author of Atomic Habits:
Learn to love the interruptions. Find the fun in the delay, the humor in the challenge, the pleasure in the daily commute.
A great deal of life is spent dealing with interruptions and waiting for the conditions to turn. We think, ‘If I can just get past this, then things will open up.’ But the interruption is not standing between you and your life. It is your life.
Yes, I prefer hassle-free days too. But you’ll rarely find a situation that is all bad. There are little pockets of joy folded inside the annoyances we face. There is always fun to be had, if you go looking for it.
This is one of the arts of living. It’s the art of enjoying the imperfect days. It’s the art of making all the moments count.”
So for week 30, I’m sharing about an interruption in my own life and the lessons it brought of simply embracing life’s imperfect moments. Interestingly, this interruption happened well before I came across James Clear’s words—and reading them gave me a fresh perspective on that most recent interruption.
Another unexpected E.D. trip
22 June 2026: What started as a week-long battle with cold and flu ended with another unexpected visit to Campbelltown Hospital Emergency Department (ED).
10.01pm, I was triaged and sent in for an ECG and blood tests. That’s what happens when you present yourself to ED with chest pain and high blood pressure. While waiting for the nurse to finalise paperwork, I happened to glance at the triage monitor and saw my blood pressure reading: 183/94. Higher than I would have liked.
10.05pm, while waiting for the ECG, an administrative clerk had already come through to confirm my details. It seems the process has changed since my last ED visit — now you get triaged first and then either go to administration or administration comes to you. One thing that caught my attention was being asked twice whether I was taking blood thinners. I found myself wondering why. Was it because of my heart rate? I made a mental note to ask if I would be asked again, but that didn’t happen.
10.21pm, back to the ED waiting area post the ECG, awaiting chest X-ray and for the doctor to review ECG results.
The chest X-ray was completed by 10.30pm, and by 10.35pm ushered back to the waiting room to wait for both the X-ray and blood test results.
10.40pm, a doctor finally came to see me. Fifteen minutes later, I received some reassuring news, i. e, clear chest X-ray. However, physical examination detected abnormal sounds in my chest and given the week I’d spent battling cold and flu symptoms, the MO decided to start me on antibiotics. The only question was which antibiotics would be most appropriate, pending the blood test results.
11.03pm, so back to the waiting area! Thing is even though you’re triaged pretty quickly – if you’re not showing any signs of cardiac attacks or arrests, they deem it appropriate to let you wait with everyone else. This time I’m nursing a headache. Thankfully, the nurses checked up on me (they do monitor you closely though) & gave me some painkillers for it.
As the minutes ticked by, I found myself observing the waiting room around me. One thing was clear: it was a blessing that the Soccer World Cup was on. Without it, I suspect the room would have been filled with the sound of snoring patients and weary carers trying to pass the time.
Midnight arrived, and there was still no sign of the doctors.
12.30am — hooray, my name was finally called! But before I got too excited thinking it was time to go home, it turned out it wasn’t for discharge… it was for another round of blood tests. Of course it was! 😅
The first troponin result had come back at 21. The doctor explained that this appeared to be my baseline reading, which sounded reassuring… I think? 🤔 I mean, apparently the “healthy” marker is around 14, so naturally my brain started doing its own little calculations. What do I know though? I’m no cardiologist.
Interestingly, when I last checked in with my cardiologist, he had mentioned something along those lines as well. ICYW, troponins are proteins released by the heart muscle when it’s under stress or injury, so a higher reading can indicate that your ticker is having a bit of a rough time — almost like it’s been put through a washing machine cycle it never signed up for! 😅 that’s your heart health education for the day! You’re welcome 😄
Anyway, antibiotics were started, and I was told it would likely be another hour or so before the second set of blood test results came back. So, the waiting game continued…
23 June 2026, 1.00am, still waiting for the repeat blood test results. Around this time, my daughter arrived bringing refreshments and a late-night snack. There is something deeply comforting about seeing family walk through a hospital door, especially in the early hours of the morning.
2.00am, there was still no news. So I told my daughter she could go home.
2.20am, that’s right, 20 minutes after my daughter leaves, I was discharged with a prescription for antibiotics. And to arrange for a review with my cardiologist. The ED medical officer (MO) advised that she was pleased with the repeat blood test results, especially those relating to my heart. She also picked up on my chest infection early, before it had the chance to develop into something more serious. Given that the department was seeing many patients—both young and old—with pneumonia and other respiratory illnesses, that night, I was especially grateful it was identified and treated promptly.
2.28am, I settled into a seat outside, waiting for my Uber ride home, which arrived about 7 minutes later. I called my daughter to let her know I was safely in the Uber and on my way home, then sent her my live location — one of those small modern comforts that helps loved ones worry a little less.
By 3.00am, I was showered, rugged up against the cold, and finally into bed. As I settled in for the night, I found myself feeling grateful:
Grateful for emergency departments and the dedicated & overworked staff who work through nights.
Grateful for antibiotics and modern medicine.
Grateful it was not an overnight stay.
Most of all, forever grateful for my family’s support and love — for daughters who turn up in the early hours with food and lots of concern 😍
A long night, but one that ended with a full heart and a thankful prayer. ❤️🙏
You see, I come from a place where being seen and treated in a public hospital within five hours is almost unheard of. When it does happen, it feels like either a miracle has taken place—or someone in the family is about to feel the pain of a very large dent in their wallet.
Until timely access to healthcare becomes the norm rather than the exception, I believe it’s something Papua New Guineans need to continue speaking openly about. Because when we stop talking about these challenges, we risk accepting them as normal—and that’s when change becomes even harder to achieve.
I know it’s not entirely fair to compare apples with oranges. Papua New Guinea and Australia operate in very different contexts, and PNG still has a long way to go.
Even so, I sometimes wonder whether we’ve become so accustomed to the shortcomings that we’ve normalised them. We don’t speak up often enough, and as a result, those with the power to improve the system may feel less pressure to act. Meaningful change is more likely when people are willing to raise their concerns and advocate for better outcomes.
Rant over!
I don’t take life’s small mercies for granted. Despite all its imperfections, I’m deeply grateful for Papua New Guinea—the land of my birth 🇵🇬—and for this beautiful country we now call home, Australia 🇦🇺. Both have shaped who I am, and both continue giving me much to be thankful for 🙏❤️
Bible reading 📖
1 Chronicles 16:34 NIV
[34] Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Prayer of thanksgiving 🙏
Heavenly Father,
Your mercies are new every day, Your compassion knows no bounds, and Your grace abounds upon us all—believers and non-believers alike.
All glory and honour belong to You for who we were yesterday, who we are today, and who we will become tomorrow. Thank You for Your unfailing love, Your patience, and Your faithfulness that carries us through every season.
Strengthen us, Father, and may Your Holy Spirit continue to lead and guide us into territories known and unknown. Use us as vessels to share Your message of love, hope, and grace through Jesus Christ alone, especially with those who are yet to know You.
May our lives be a reflection of Your goodness and a testimony of Your unfailing grace.
In Jesus’ name, we pray.
Amen. 🙏
To God be the glory always ❤️🙏
#EmbracingTheInterruptions #FindingJoyInTheJourney #MakingMomentsCount #LittleMercies #GodsFaithfulness #GratefulHeart #NeverTakeLifeForGranted #PNGToAustralia
Idau Hahine 