I always try to help others where I can which I think stems from my background in medicine. I graduated from Birmingham Medical School (UK) in 2009 with Honours in Therapeutics .

 After undertaking my junior doctor years in hospitals around Birmingham, I was successful in being offered my first choice job in Histopathology in Southampton. Two years into registrar training I had the ability to undertake a research degree in Stillbirth and miscarriage with University College London and Great Ormond Street Hospital, London. I graduated with an MD in Paediatric Pathology in 2016. 

From here I decided to go back to clinical medicine and explore working in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (OBGYN). This had always been my preferred specialty, but depression and anxiety as a Junior Doctor meant I put those dreams on hold. Despite enjoying working in OBGYN  my health was suffering.

I had been diagnosed with a seronegative, autoimmune polyarthropathy which did not appreciate working in a surgical specialty. My arthritis started to affect my wrists/hands, and I knew I could no longer work in any surgical specialty. This left medical roles. At the time I had come off my antidepressants to try to start a family. The downside? My depression and anxiety came flooding back. My husband, very sensibly, advised me to stop working and concentrate on staying healthy for the baby that was now growing inside me.

I had to leave my job and profession due to ill health.

We had moved to a completely new area for my husband’s job and I had no local support or friendships.

My body was changing, emotionally and physically and I was terrified about loosing my baby after researching pregnancy loss.

Depression came in with its huge cloak and swept me up. I tried to hide it. I tried to carry on as “normal”. When I had my daughter through an emergency caesarean section, my depression went from bad to worse. I had this beautiful baby girl but inside felt hollow with no self-esteem, no self-worth,  no confidence and just riddled with anxiety.

 It took until my daughter was 5 months old before I started treatment. I look back at this time with a huge amount of sadness as I truly wish I could of enjoyed every single moment with my baby. But hindsight is a wonderful thing. We cannot change the past, just learn from it. 

My beautiful Saint Bernard, Jubly, really helped me get through this time period, giving me purpose when I was pregnant and structure to my day with walks etc when my daughter was born.

Over the next few years, my bond with my daughter grew from strength to strength and we even had another baby! Poast- natal depression still reared its head, but we (my husband and I) were more prepared for it and we tackled it together.

Everyone’s lives changed. My husband is an anaesthetist and so was working on the front line of Intensive care every day. The kids and I were suddenly alone, everyday with just our dog for company. Thank goodness for our dog! Jubly made us get out every day for a walk and truly helped keep me sane. The kids were 3 and 1 years old so it was an intense time to be at home all day and I was very worried about losing my husband to covid. We had to make sure all our wills and health insurance etc were up to date.

When your own health and those you love are in jeopardy, it really makes you take a step back and think what’s really important in life. For me, it’s my family.

I contemplated going back to medicine during Covid, but I didn’t wasn’t to risk my children loosing two parents and didn’t want them to be cared for by someone else. Thankfully, my husband survived covid and as the world opened up, I began to wonder how I could use my mind and still be present for the children.

I established Travel with Julie Anne. Having my own business means I can be present for my children as well as providing high quality care and standards for my clients. Everyone was keen to travel once Covid had settled and I was keen to use my skills to help people find happiness in life once more. I have always enjoyed travelling and have been lucky enough to travel across the world. 

Travel for me means spending time with loved ones, learning new cultures, learning history, tasting new food, resting and restoring one’s mind ready to face life back home.  

Being able to spend quality time with loved ones is so special and now, tailor making peoples holidays, I find joy in helping others fulfil their travel dreams with the people they love the most.