In the past couple of months, I’ve noticed lots of senior NHS professionals following me on LinkedIn. At first, I thought this was strange, until I realised that many of them had watched my TEDxNHS talk and were reaching out directly to our charity to learn more!
Two nurses from two separate NHS trusts contacted us, sharing that after watching the talk, they recognised the limitations in their current roles when it came to offering this service – they wanted to learn more and how they might partner with Bradford teaching hospitals trust.
Recognition from the NHS and beyond
A few weeks ago, I was invited to take part in the Bradford teaching hospitals trust monthly podcast to discuss our partnership – all very exciting! At the meeting they told me that three other NHS trusts have been in direct contact with them as a result of the TEDxNHS talk. They were interested in learning how the partnership works and how they could implement this service with our charity at their trust. I had no idea this was happening until that very moment, which made it all the more incredible!
Beyond the NHS, I have also been invited to speak at the every woman festival which is a really big UK women’s health festival event. Fellow speaker Molly Fenton recommended my talk to the team and they invited me to speak – a huge honour and privileged!
Even more surreal, I applied to speak at the International Tattoo and Pigment Conference in Rome, never expecting to get a response. To my amazement, they loved my talk and invited me to speak at their event. It feels like a dream!
Finding clarity, credibility, and a platform to be heard
Being park of TEDxNHS has given me clarity in our message and to express our concerns with the way things are currently done, in a non-judgemental but impactful way.
Since the talk, I was also asked to take part in a webinar by a Harley Street surgeon, a recognition that has further strengthened our credibility within the medical industry.
For years, when I applied to speak at events, I was met with silence—no responses, not even rejections. Now, for the first time, people are listening. Even if the answer is “no,” at least there’s a response, a sign that our voices are finally being heard.
Speaking for those who felt they couldn’t
I feel like I’m finally having my voice heard after eight years of advocating for people in the breast cancer community who have been living with no nipples – people who are living with embarrassment and shame which is devastating.
Before I stepped onto the TEDxNHS stage, something unexpected happened. The lights in the corridor went out where I had been wired up. One of the coaches apologised, but in that moment of darkness, I found a moment of clarity. I thought about the hundreds of stories women have shared with me – how they felt they couldn’t speak up because they were grateful to be alive and they didn’t want to complain or add burden to the NHS.
So I channelled all of their stories, their voices and their energy in that moment and stepped onto the red dot. I spoke not just for myself but for all those who had quietly accepted their fate. People like my own auntie, who lived without nipples simply because she believed there was no other option.
Potential for global change
This issue isn’t just limited to the UK, it’s a global norm in hospitals worldwide. But imagine – just IMAGINE – if the impact we’re having on the NHS spreads internationally. The ripple effect could change the lives of thousands if not millions of people living with faded areolas and the feelings of shame.
I believe in my heart that we are on the cusp of something transformative, and the magnitude of that impact is almost too overwhelming!
Life changing opportunity
I just wanted to take the time to write and express my heartfelt gratitude for this life changing opportunity to talk about such an important and underrated subject. We have fought for so many years to be heard, and finally, people are listening.
We know that we offer a solution in every single way to this issue that is often being overlooked and if it wasn’t for the opportunity of working with TEDxNHS team, I would still be pulling my hair out now!
All the opportunities that are rising and continue to arise are nothing short of a dream come true for our volunteer run charity and for myself who have had health struggles along the way due to managing the workload and the stress of rejections over the years.
This is going change so much for so many people who deserve to feel beautiful and whole again after everything they’ve been through!
Change is coming and we couldn’t have done it without the TEDxNHS support. On behalf of myself, the Nipple Innovation project team and the people living without nipples – we will be forever ever EVER grateful, thank you so much for believing in me.