ON THE OF ONE OF THE FIERCEST BATTLES By Cecilia Pestana “Do not fear, for I am with you, I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
PASSION After finishing matric I moved to Cape Town, from the Northern Cape, to pursue my studies in photography. However, in the first year of studying photography I decided I wanted to do something more meaningful and the following year I started studying nursing at Tygerberg hospital. During my second year of studying I was invited to a Charismatic church by a friend and encountered Jesus Christ in a radical manner. It was like falling in love for the first time for me because I realized that I could actually have a meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ and not just live according to the Christian rules.
50
my four year course which qualified me as a Registered Nursing Sister (Community, Paediatric, General and Midwifery). I furthered my studies and obtained a higher diploma in Theatre technique and in 2004 was a
AS A CHILD OF GOD I CAME FACE TO FACE WITH AN UNKNOWN ENEMY, BUT INSIDE MY HEART I KNEW THAT GOD HAS PREPARED ME THROUGHOUT MY WHOLE CAREER TO BE STRONG, COURAGEOUS,
PROFESSION
TO WALK IN BOLDNESS
Nursing proved harder than I could imagine. As a young, carefree young lady I was suddenly confronted with life and death situations, sickness and the side of life that people normally shy away from. During this time my faith in God kept me strong as I was suddenly removed from the carefree life I was accustomed to. I worked, studied and had very little free time. I was determined to finish what I started and in December 1999 I completed
IN THE MIDST OF FEAR! specialist in my field of theatre nurse. I’ve been working in this field for 20 years and am currently working for a private healthcare group called Advanced Health Day clinic. Here I was promoted to second in charge of the facility and together with the facility manager we continue to work in our field of expertise to provide excellent health care to our patients
before, during and after surgery.
PURPOSE When news came of the pandemic starting in China and moving over the globe, we as healthcare professionals experienced an anticipation of an unknown, a sudden invisible enemy that would soon breach our shores. There was relatively very little knowledge concerning the Covid-19 virus and I was set out to gain as much information as possible regarding the spread of the virus in preparation for what was coming. When the lockdown started we were plunged into the reality of the pandemic and had to do extensive training with our staff on preventative measures and on wearing PPE and do what we were trained to do so well. Not only did we have to deal with the virus but we have to constantly confront our own fears. Daily we are faced with the danger of contracting the virus and transmitting it to our families. We are forced to tend to our own anxieties. As a child of God I came face to face with an unknown enemy, but inside my heart I knew that God has prepared me throughout my whole career to be
