Latest news with #Esperance
ABC News
12 hours ago
- Health
- ABC News
Woman feels abandoned by WA health system amid year-long chronic pain battle
Jayde Guest spends most evenings in extreme pain. For almost a year, the mother of two from Esperance, 700 kilometres south-east of Perth, has barely been able to work or socialise. She feels as though her life has been stripped of all its best parts. "I'm at the end of my tether right now. "Day-to-day life is a real challenge." While she has turned to Western Australia's health system numerous times for help, she said the process had only compounded her suffering. The pain, which "feels like her chest wall is caving in", arrived out of the blue on a normal winter's morning. It has returned each day since, intensifying the more active she is and often becoming unbearable by night. Her doctor's first suspicion was cancer, as she had been in remission from an aggressive form called osteosarcoma for about 20 years. But the medical system was at a loss when tests ruled out cancer. She made the journey to Perth, seeing five different specialists on separate occasions, none of whom could produce the answers she sought. Ms Guest said she was then twice rejected from the WA Health Department's central referral service — designed to triage and allocate cases — and the hospital stopped calling her back. "I [was] in the too-hard basket," she said. Ms Guest said she turned to support groups on social media and sought out experts in London, America, Melbourne and Sydney. Finally, she found someone who might have an answer to her pain. During her previous bone cancer battle, she had five ribs removed and replaced with a Gore-Tex mesh. A doctor in Sydney believes the 20-year-old mesh is now shrinking and pulling against her chest wall. The doctor, who specialises in mesh removal, told Ms Guest they were confident of being able to remove hers but is still working out how to rebuild her chest wall. Ms Guest is relieved to have a way forward, but the wait continues as they work on a solution. She said the uncertainty of her experience felt harder than the 16 rounds of chemotherapy she endured in her 20s. "The lack of communication from the medical system has been really disappointing," she said. "And I think that's what makes people feel really alone. Clare Mullen, executive director at WA's Health Consumers Council, said experiences like Ms Guest's happened "too often". But Ms Mullen said cases involving regional patients and chronic pain could be particularly difficult. She said this was due to the disconnect between country GPs and metropolitan health professionals and the scepticism that could follow chronic pain. "Unfortunately, it's one of the areas where we see a lot of people having to convince the clinicians … that their pain is real." Ms Mullen said anyone feeling like their case was not progressing or who had been rejected from the service should contact the GP who made their first referral. "It's not ideal, particularly in a case like this [where] someone is living with chronic pain," she said. "It's a time-consuming process." Ms Mullen said if they still had no luck, they should contact the Health Consumers Council. Monika Boogs, chief executive of Pain Australia, said the number of Australians suffering chronic pain was about 3.7 million and growing. But Ms Boogs said there were only about 200 pain specialists in the country, with access proving particularly difficult for regional residents. She said a national action plan for pain management was done six years ago, but many programs were still unfunded. "Pain is like mental health was 20 years ago. It's something that's growing. It's impacting so many people," she said. WA Health Minister Meredith Hammat said the health system aimed to provide world-class care to all West Australians. "We will never stop working to advance the care our health system provides," she said. A WA Health spokesperson said initiatives were in progress to improve access to public specialist outpatient services. To help others, Ms Guest started blogging about her experience. She said she was a big believer in documenting experiences and helping others to advocate within the medical system. "By me sharing it, I've had people open up to me and hopefully I've helped them to see that they're not alone. "And Facebook groups, as much as they can be a little bit negative sometimes, I've found some great people and great friends going through similar things to me. "And that's definitely helped." Ms Guest said it also kept her sane, as the wait for a cure continued. "I think it's hard for people to understand because I look kind of normal, I don't walk around going, 'Oh, my gosh, I'm in so much pain.' "I just have to carry on."
Al-Ahram Weekly
a day ago
- Sport
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Chelsea's Fernandez flying ahead of Benfica reunion at Club World Cup
The 24-year-old set up two goals in Chelsea's 3-0 win over Esperance of Tunisia which sent his team through to the last 16 and a date with the Portuguese giants in Charlotte this weekend. With England international Cole Palmer struggling for form, Fernandez has been Chelsea's key creative influence over the past few months. The Argentina star helped the Londoners qualify for the Champions League by claiming fourth place in the Premier League, as well as winning the Conference League in May. After Real Betis took the lead in the final, Fernandez inspired Chelsea's comeback by netting their first goal in an eventual 4-1 triumph in Poland. In 2025, Fernandez has scored and assisted a total of 14 goals, with Pedro Neto the next highest producer at Enzo Maresca's Chelsea with nine, and Palmer lagging behind with eight, along with youngster Tyrique George. As well as impressing against Esperance, Fernandez scored in Chelsea's 2-0 opening win in Atlanta against Los Angeles FC. "My goal against LAFC was my eighth of the season. That is a good number, it's good in one season and I am thankful to God for this. But for me, this is still just the beginning," Fernandez told Chelsea's website. "I'm always going to want more, I always want to do better. If I can do that, I will be helping the team. This is always on my mind. "It's why I work hard and try to improve, and with Enzo (Maresca), I am playing further forward, which has helped with my statistics. Next season, though, I want to score more goals and give more assists." Record signing With Chelsea's squad largely jumbled together in the last two years, Fernandez's arrival in February 2023 for a British transfer record fee of £107 million ($147 million) makes him one of the more experienced players. "This responsibility is something I enjoy," continued Fernandez, who arrived at Stamford Bridge on the back of his superb 2022 World Cup performances as Argentina won the trophy. "I try not to let it change how I perform on the pitch. For me, I must have the same mindset and keep the same attitude -- work hard, give my very best, be brave, and do everything I can to help the team." Later in 2023 Chelsea signed Moises Caicedo for a deal which could rise to £115 million and this summer Liverpool's move for Florian Wirtz could cost them as much as £116 million, easing the pressure on Fernandez a little. Fernandez had played just 29 games for Benfica before Chelsea swooped, having arrived in Portugal from boyhood club River Plate. After an inconsistent start to life in London, a hernia problem derailed the second half of his 2023/24 season and then in July 2024 he was also criticised for singing an insulting song about France players with his Argentina team-mates. The midfielder has been linked with a possible departure from Chelsea but coach Maresca insisted the plan is for Fernandez to stay. "This season he has been very, very good. He can be even better next season starting from the first day," said Maresca this week. "So, nothing to say about (the) speculation. He is focused on us and that's the most important thing." Fernandez set up new Chelsea arrival Liam Delap for his first goal in the win over Esperance and gave the striker guidance for the months ahead. "I spoke to Enzo and he told me when he gets the ball to just run," explained Delap. "It was a great pass and luckily it went in." With Nicolas Jackson suspended, Delap is set to start once more against Benfica and he knows right now providing him the ammunition is one of the world's most in-form playmakers. Find more details on group standings, match schedules, and competition statistics (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Short link:
Yahoo
a day ago
- Science
- Yahoo
60-year mystery of Aussie plant finally cracked by scientists
Australian scientists have gone to great lengths to crack a decades-long mystery of how a native plant that has continued to grow and thrive in a patch of land in Western Australia, with the answer under their noses all along. There are 130 known species of boronia across Australia and New Caledonia, with the majority easily recognisable from their pretty, open-petalled flowers. However, 18 species growing in a triangle between Kalbarri, Augusta and Esperance in WA have all boasted "weird and wonderful" flowers that are closed off to most pollinators. How the plant continues to spread stumped scientists for over 60 years. "The location has a spectacularly diverse ecosystem, and it's a really special place from an ecological viewpoint," Doug Hilton, scientist and CEO of CSIRO, told Yahoo News. "The weird flowers of these boronias have suggested to scientists for over 60 years that there must be pure pollinators of the plants. It couldn't have evolved that way by accident." This 'pure pollinator' — an animal or insect that exclusively pollinates a plant — has been elusive to scientists for decades. But for the last 15 years, Doug and his team have been tirelessly working to prove a theory. Over 60 years, scientists who have encountered the boronia species have made suggestions on who the mystery pollinator could be, and different insects have been hypothesised. "If you look in the scientific papers, there's an occasional reference to a moth, but nothing ever came of it. They had never been collected systematically or photographed," Doug explained. One of the reasons why the moth species called Heliozelidae was never previously pursued was because, unlike many other types of moths, they fly during the day. They are seldom attracted to lights, so they're underrepresented in museum collections. The best way to collect and study them is to sweep a butterfly net over plants and look inside — literally. Images show Doug standing in Western Australia with his head inside a butterfly net. "We found they had the right structure at their abdomen that collects the pollen of the boronias, and these structures are like nothing that has been seen in the other 150,000 species of moths and butterflies; they're absolutely unique," he said. "It was a real Eureka moment." The moths and the boronias have an 'obligate mutualism', meaning they both rely on the other to survive. "It's great for the moth because she can pollinate the plants, and her caterpillars have food, and therefore the species survives as she passes on her genes. And it's good for the plant, because they now have a very efficient pollinator... it's all about balance," he said. Doug continues to study the insects to further deepen the evidence that they are responsible for the plants, and explained a discovery like this is the reason he became a scientist in the first place. " I think that scientists have an obligation to talk to the community about the work they do, and I think there's an appetite for people to understand the wonder of the world," he said. "There's a lot of bad news and a lot of pessimism in the world right now. I think if you can begin to understand how the world works, and do it through science, that's really valuable." Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Straits Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez flying ahead of Benfica reunion at Club World Cup
Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez walks onto the pitch prior to the match against Esperance on June 24. PHOTO: AFP CHARLOTTE – For a long while Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez struggled under the weight of his hefty price tag but as he prepares to face his former side Benfica on June 28 in the Club World Cup, he is finally showing why the Blues splashed out on him. The 24-year-old set up two goals in the Blues' 3-0 win over Esperance of Tunisia which sent his team through to the last 16 and a date with the Portuguese giants in Charlotte this weekend. With England international Cole Palmer struggling for form, Fernandez has been Chelsea's key creative influence over the past few months. The Argentina star helped the Londoners qualify for the Champions League by claiming fourth place in the Premier League, as well as winning the Conference League in May. After Real Betis took the lead in the final, Fernandez inspired Chelsea's comeback by netting their first goal in an eventual 4-1 triumph in Poland. In 2025, Fernandez has scored and assisted a total of 14 goals, with Pedro Neto the next highest producer at Enzo Maresca's Chelsea with nine, and Palmer lagging behind with eight. As well as impressing against Esperance, Fernandez scored in Chelsea's 2-0 opening win in Atlanta against Los Angeles FC. 'My goal against LAFC was my eighth of the season. That is a good number, it's good in one season and I am thankful to God for this. But for me, this is still just the beginning,' Fernandez told Chelsea's website. 'I'm always going to want more, I always want to do better. If I can do that, I will be helping the team. This is always on my mind. 'It's why I work hard and try to improve, and with Enzo (Maresca), I am playing further forward, which has helped with my statistics. Next season, though, I want to score more goals and give more assists.' With Chelsea's squad largely jumbled together in the last two years, Fernandez's arrival in February 2023 for a British transfer record fee of £107 million makes him one of the more experienced players. 'This responsibility is something I enjoy,' continued Fernandez, who arrived at Stamford Bridge on the back of his superb 2022 World Cup performances as Argentina won the trophy. 'I try not to let it change how I perform on the pitch. For me, I must have the same mindset and keep the same attitude – work hard, give my very best, be brave, and do everything I can to help the team.' Later in 2023 Chelsea signed Moises Caicedo for a deal which could rise to £115 million and this summer Liverpool's move for Florian Wirtz could cost them as much as £116 million, easing the pressure on Fernandez a little. Fernandez had played just 29 games for Benfica before Chelsea swooped, having arrived in Portugal from boyhood club River Plate. After an inconsistent start to life in London, a hernia problem derailed the second half of his 2023-24 season and then in July 2024 he was also criticised for singing an insulting song about France players with his Argentina teammates. The midfielder has been linked with a possible departure from Chelsea but coach Maresca insisted the plan is for Fernandez to stay. 'This season he has been very, very good. He can be even better next season starting from the first day,' said Maresca this week. 'So, nothing to say about (the) speculation. He is focused on us and that's the most important thing.' Fernandez set up new Chelsea arrival Liam Delap for his first goal in the win over Esperance and gave the striker guidance for the months ahead. 'I spoke to Enzo and he told me when he gets the ball to just run,' explained Delap. 'It was a great pass and luckily it went in.' With Nicolas Jackson suspended, Delap is set to start once more against Benfica and he knows right now providing him the ammunition is one of the world's most in-form playmakers. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Chelsea's Fernandez flying ahead of Benfica reunion at Club World Cup
CHARLOTTE: For a long while Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez struggled under the weight of his hefty price tag but as he prepares to face his former side Benfica on Saturday in the Club World Cup, he is finally showing why the Blues splashed out on him. The 24-year-old set up two goals in Chelsea's 3-0 win over Esperance of Tunisia which sent his team through to the last 16 and a date with the Portuguese giants in Charlotte this weekend. With England international Cole Palmer struggling for form, Fernandez has been Chelsea's key creative influence over the past few months. The Argentina star helped the Londoners qualify for the Champions League by claiming fourth place in the Premier League, as well as winning the Conference League in May. After Real Betis took the lead in the final, Fernandez inspired Chelsea's comeback by netting their first goal in an eventual 4-1 triumph in Poland. In 2025, Fernandez has scored and assisted a total of 14 goals, with Pedro Neto the next highest producer at Enzo Maresca's Chelsea with nine, and Palmer lagging behind with eight, along with youngster Tyrique George. As well as impressing against Esperance, Fernandez scored in Chelsea's 2-0 opening win in Atlanta against Los Angeles FC. "My goal against LAFC was my eighth of the season. That is a good number, it's good in one season and I am thankful to God for this. But for me, this is still just the beginning," Fernandez told Chelsea's website. "I'm always going to want more, I always want to do better. If I can do that, I will be helping the team. This is always on my mind. "It's why I work hard and try to improve, and with Enzo (Maresca), I am playing further forward, which has helped with my statistics. Next season, though, I want to score more goals and give more assists." With Chelsea's squad largely jumbled together in the last two years, Fernandez's arrival in February 2023 for a British transfer record fee of £107 million ($147 million) makes him one of the more experienced players. "This responsibility is something I enjoy," continued Fernandez, who arrived at Stamford Bridge on the back of his superb 2022 World Cup performances as Argentina won the trophy. "I try not to let it change how I perform on the pitch. For me, I must have the same mindset and keep the same attitude – work hard, give my very best, be brave, and do everything I can to help the team." Later in 2023 Chelsea signed Moises Caicedo for a deal which could rise to £115 million and this summer Liverpool's move for Florian Wirtz could cost them as much as £116 million, easing the pressure on Fernandez a little. Fernandez had played just 29 games for Benfica before Chelsea swooped, having arrived in Portugal from boyhood club River Plate. After an inconsistent start to life in London, a hernia problem derailed the second half of his 2023/24 season and then in July 2024 he was also criticised for singing an insulting song about France players with his Argentina team-mates. The midfielder has been linked with a possible departure from Chelsea but coach Maresca insisted the plan is for Fernandez to stay. "This season he has been very, very good. He can be even better next season starting from the first day," said Maresca this week. "So, nothing to say about (the) speculation. He is focused on us and that's the most important thing." Fernandez set up new Chelsea arrival Liam Delap for his first goal in the win over Esperance and gave the striker guidance for the months ahead. "I spoke to Enzo and he told me when he gets the ball to just run," explained Delap. "It was a great pass and luckily it went in." With Nicolas Jackson suspended, Delap is set to start once more against Benfica and he knows right now providing him the ammunition is one of the world's most in-form playmakers.
