FAMILY MATTERS
2021:
My Year of Rebirth By Leena Bathia
F
our years ago, my family's day to day life was overhauled when we took the plunge to move from the United Kingdom to Qatar. Last year, it took another unexpected turn. This is the story of my journey here in Doha, from being a burnt-out healthcare worker to an inspired business owner.
Making Our Move
Trying Times
Like many expat families with strong home roots, diving into a new life in another country had challenged our comfort zones and all the norms we knew.
As a professional paediatric pharmacist working in a busy emergency unit, the events of my day would vary from one extreme to another.
This transition came after I was offered a lucrative opportunity to work as a pharmacist in a newly opened paediatric hospital. So, me, my husband and two daughters packed up our lives in London and headed to Doha. Going from a fully immersed stay-at-home mother to a full-time pharmacist and family breadwinner wasn't easy. However, we all saw it as a wonderful opportunity for my husband to develop deep connections with our daughters. 56
At the end of an emotionally heavy day, I would shed tears recalling specific moments. The relentless team efforts to save severely ill children, the heart-stabbing sounds of outpouring grief, and the deep feelings of failure would all haunt me long after finishing my shift. Yet, I would set foot into my home, switch to being a devoted mother and wife, and more importantly, try to be physically and mentally "present" for my family. This was never easy, and it mirrors what healthcare workers have to face every day, especially during these trialling times.
