How I Went From Stuck in a Rut to Rebuilding My Future
A caregiving story of congenital CMV, hearing loss, seizures and finding a way forward
There was a season not too long ago where I felt like life was just slipping through my fingers, like no matter how much I tried to hold on or make sense of it, everything kept shifting beneath me. I was in a rut that felt impossible to climb out of.
Our journey with my son has never been straightforward. He was born with a virus I didn’t even know I could pass on — congenital CMV. At first, we were told it was just mild hearing loss. Then came the bloodwork, the seizures, the endless hospital appointments. Over time, his hearing continued to decline until, by age two, it had progressed to profound deafness.
We got the cochlear implants and committed to speech therapy. We signed up for every early intervention program we could find — from playgroups to sign language sessions to spoken language therapy. I drove and travelled hours to appointments, I followed every recommendation, I said yes to everything that promised progress.
And yet, progress was painfully slow.
Each setback felt like another weight stacked onto the pile I was already carrying. The seizures were heart-wrenching and experiencing regressions felt like my worst nightmare. The moments when, despite all the therapy, my son’s language remained delayed. Each one chipped away at me until I felt hollowed out.
I reached a point where I didn’t know what my future looked like anymore. I wasn’t investing in myself. I wasn’t working on anything that felt like it was mine. I wasn’t putting energy into the things that used to light me up. And without even realising it, I had stopped experiencing joy.
When people around me spoke about happiness or excitement, it felt like they were speaking a language I no longer understood. Because when you’re raising a child whose story is unfolding in front of you and you know there are pieces of it you cannot change, joy can feel like it is such a distant memory.
What Changed
It didn’t begin with some huge decision. It started quietly, almost without me realising. I began to share little pieces of our life online; the cochlear implant surgery, speech goals, wear time, sleep disruptions and my feelings around all of these events. Not polished updates or big announcements, just moments that reflected our reality — the long nights, the difficult mornings, the therapy sessions that tested my patience and the tiny breakthroughs that kept me going.
And something happened that I hadn’t expected. People responded in a profound way. They told me they understood and that they had similar feelings and shared their own vulnerable stories with me. They leaned in and reminded me that even though our journey is unique, I was not as alone as I thought I was.
That simple act of sharing became more than an outlet. It became a way to connect with others who were walking similar roads, to process my own emotions in a healthier way, and to remember that I still had a voice, even when life felt overwhelming.
The Shift
Over time, I began to see that my story wasn’t just something I carried. It could be a bridge — a bridge to connection, a bridge to new opportunities, a bridge to a different kind of future that worked with my unpredictable life rather than against it.
When I eventually paired my story with something I genuinely believed in — products that aligned with my values and tied into the themes of rebuilding, energy, and confidence — everything shifted again.
I was no longer just sharing my reality. I was building something that gave me purpose. I wasn’t chasing people or forcing conversations that didn’t feel natural. I wasn’t relying on cold messages or asking family and friends to support me out of obligation.
Instead, I found myself in a position where people were coming to me. They were asking questions. They were recognising themselves in my story and saying things like, “send me the link.”
Why I Share This
I want you to know this: if you’ve been posting your story online because you need an outlet, or because you hope to connect with others who understand, and if you’ve wondered even for a moment whether it could be more, I am here to tell you that it can.
You don’t need thousands of followers. You don’t need to have social media marketing all figured out. You don’t need to wait until life feels easier.
👉 What you need is already in your hands — it’s your story. And when you learn how to share it in a way that draws people in, it can create connection, purpose, and even income that bends and flexes around the reality of caregiving life.
How to Earn Income After Giving Up Your Career to Be a Full-Time Caregiver
When you step out of the workforce to care for your child with a disability full-time, it feels like everything changes overnight.
Learn How to Earn Income After Giving Up Your Career to Be a Full-Time Caregiver
Your Personal Invitation
Hi, I’m Trudy — a carer mum to a medically complex boy. I help other carer mums rebuild their confidence, energy, and income with an online business that actually fits around the realities of caregiving life.
If you’re ready to know more about how carer mums are earning income around their caregiving responsibilities and rebuilding their confidence and energy with an online business, click below to complete some short questions and request more information.
Learn How Carer Mums are Earning Around Caregiving Responsibilities
P.S.
👉 Follow me on Instagram: @trudymayo_ to stay up to date and keep an eye on my stories for behind the scenes updates.