Sulindie beats back brain tumour to complete her nursing studies

By Greg Chapman

Sulindie Pretorius was in the final stages of her Diploma of Nursing studies when she was diagnosed with a brain tumour, but now, as the year draws to a close, she has graduated from CQUniversity and begun a new healthy outlook on life as an enrolled nurse.

Sulindie was already familiar with the medical field, with her late mother working as a nurse, but she never expected to have a medical emergency while following in her footsteps.

“In January this year, right before we were meant to start with stage three of study - our final stage - I ended up in hospital and found out I had a brain tumour that had started bleeding,” she said.

“This was causing me really insane headaches so I got in contact with my teacher, Rachael Legros to let her know what was going on and to find out what my options were (which was hard since we didn’t know what we were dealing with) and she said as long as I finished by November I wouldn’t have to start over.” 

During one of the headache attacks Sulindie lost her vision and it was decided she needed an urgent craniotomy to remove the tumour.

“The surgery was in April and I decided before going in to try and finish all assignments and theoretical work,” she said. 

While Sulindie successfully completed these tasks, there was a complication after the surgery.

“Unfortunately, I developed a cerebral spinal fluid leak after my first surgery and had to go back in for a second craniotomy in May,” she said.

“(At the time) all I had left to do study wise now was attend res school and my last five weeks of placement.

“I honestly don’t think I would have been able to finish if it wasn’t for the support of Rachael. She was so encouraging. Kept checking in on me, asking if I needed a breather. She got my teachers to mark my assignments earlier, so I at least had all that done before going into hospital. I’m so grateful to her.”

Fortunately, Sulindie received the good news that her tumour was non-malignant, and she crossed the CQU graduation stage in Rockhampton on 12 December.

“They took out 95 per cent of the tumour, so now we’re just keeping an eye on it and going in for six monthly MRI’s,” she said.

“I’ve been working at the Mater Hospital as an Assistant-in-nursing and will continue working there now as an enrolled nurse. I’m still deciding whether I’m going to become a Registered Nurse, but if I do it will definitely be with CQU.

“I can’t explain in words how much it means to me to be graduating. It’s an absolute dream come true.

She encouraged anyone considering study in nursing to follow their dreams.

“I’m truly grateful for everyone (especially Rachael’s) assistance I got during my studies. Finishing this Diploma is an absolute dream come true and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without everyone’s help,” she said.

“Just go for it. It’s such a good feeling to be able to work with people and trying to make a difference in someone’s life.”