Geelong man turns nurse after life-changing surgery

A GEELONG resident has transitioned from patient to nurse at Epworth Geelong, inspired by the exceptional care he received during his battle with ulcerative colitis.

In 2016, facing severe health challenges due to ulcerative colitis, Matthew Batterham underwent an emergency colectomy performed by Dr David Wardill.

His condition had led to drastic weight loss and significantly impacted his quality of life.

“I was on medications, going to the toilet up to 40 times a day due to how inflamed my bowel was, my weight dropped to 45kg and I did not leave the house,” Mr Batterham said.

Following the initial surgery, Professor Glenn Guest conducted three more operations, which Mr Batterham said gave him a “whole new life.”

The surgeries resulted in him having an ileostomy bag, which greatly improved his quality of life.

Before his health ordeal, Mr Batterham worked in retail but was so moved by the care and support he received from the nursing staff during his hospital stay that he decided to pursue a career in nursing.

“Coming into hospital, you aren’t having the best time. It just takes one nurse to go that little bit further and it helps get you through one of the hardest periods of your life. They were awesome, and a huge reason why I decided to become a nurse,” he said.

Mr Batterham embarked on nursing studies at university and aimed to work at Epworth Geelong, aspiring to become a stomal nurse.

He said his experiences as a patient have enriched his nursing skills, and made him uniquely empathetic towards his patients.

After working six months in cardiology and neurology, Mr Batterham joined the surgical ward as a nurse.

“It felt great to join the nurses on the ward who looked after me years earlier,” he said.