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Most of you will not have known Alison Mary, although she had several dear friends here. She was an 87-year-old who passed away today. Although she was not an author here she would post many supportive comments to stories in days past.
She used to say that she was Australia's oldest transsexual after she transitioned about ten years ago. I would not and cannot dispute her claim. What I do know is that she was a true heroine. She was a first responder, a paramedic, for over twenty-two years and saved many lives but never gave herself the credit she deserved. She attended many really traumatic disaster scenes including one rail crash in which 88 people died and which left her with severe PTSD and eventually led to her retirement from the ambulance service.
I never met her in person although we corresponded regularly and Skyped often. She was a formidable and gracious character. Until just a few weeks before her death she was very much involved in her local TG community in Cairns, Australia. During the last year an accident incurred in her driving her disability scooter (she never slowed down) caused her to become virtually paraplegic and as a result she passed away earlier today.
I can truly say we will never see her like again. RIP Alison. Bless you my dear friend.
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Alison Mary
Like many others I corresponded with Alison many times over the past decade and it was during that time that she took herself to the gender clinic for, what seemed obvious to those her knew her, a diagnosis of dysphoria. Her encouragement then led me to seek a professional opinion, leading to my own diagnosis. We exchanged emails until just after her scooter accident but I managed a skype conversation a month or so back.
I'm blessed with having known a wonderful lady,
Shiraz
I wrote this a few years ago
It as hard enough when it was just Joann and Laurie.
Oh, don't worry, sis...they'll be okay.
I worry about her every day
And mine as well, I worry, too
But rejoice, they're friends like me and you!
I'm so glad I found you here.
And me, as well, my sister dear.
Alison was the very first friend I met on the internet when she commented on a story I had posted on Storysite. And she was the first along with Kelly Blake whom my late wife Tracey grew comfortable knowing WHY I knew them. Alison was the very first person to call me Andrea. I can't stop crying.
Love, Andrea Lena