In 2009 Paula Knight was an assistant marketing director for
PricewaterhouseCoopers in London. In her early 40s, Knight's life was
carefree. But during a two-week holiday to New York she took a call from
her mother: her dad was in hospital having suffered a stroke. From her
mum's voice she could sense something else was wrong – her mother's
mental illness, paranoid schizophrenia, had returned. Knight had to cut
short her holiday and, as it would turn out, her career.
Returning
to her parents' home in Worthing, West Sussex, she found her father
seriously ill in hospital and her mother equally unwell at home.
"Unfortunately Mum had alienated all of their friends and neighbours
because of her suspicion problems. So it was really just me trying to
deal with it," Knight says.
At the same time her biggest work
project of the year – of any year – was kicking off. Paula was leading
the marketing campaign for PwC's sustainability team ahead of the UN Climate Conference in Copenhagen.
During hospital visits she dashed down corridors and sought out
courtyards trying to find a phone signal with which to co-ordinate
efforts back in the office.
Full Article on Guardian Money
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