Lindt Café siege survivor four years on

ALMOST four years ago, Louisa Hope was among the 18 people taken hostage in the Lindt Café siege. Having survived, she was determined to turn hate into hope.

Louisa Hope: “I now feel somewhat fearless. I feel that life is short, so living it in a purposeful way is more important than ever.”

ALMOST four years ago, Louisa Hope was among the 18 people taken hostage in the Lindt Café siege. Having survived, she was determined to turn hate into hope.

It was such a normal day. It was December 15, 2014 and I was heading out with my mother to do some business in town. We decided to linger at the Lindt Café in Martin Place in Sydney as we waited for our appointment at 10am... Little did we know we would get caught up in a siege. We could never have imagined what would happen when we woke up that day.

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Immediately after the siege, I was astounded that I’d survived. I was soelated and grateful — just thanking God that both Mum and I had pulled through. Then sadness and grief followed when I fully understood we’d lost [fellow hostages] Tori Johnson and Katrina Dawson.

Photos of Katrina Dawson (L) and Tori Johnson (R) sit amongst the numerous floral tributes left outside the Lindt cafe in Sydney's Martin Place. (Pic: AFP/William West)

When the siege finally ended after 17 hours, I was taken to emergency as I had been injured. A very calm nurse looked after me. And I spoke with the detectives, trying to remember everything that happened. There was some concern that I might lose my foot and then the shock discovery that I also had shrapnel in my belly.

I spent three months in the Prince of Wales Hospital. Even though it was a long three months, I cannot fault my time there. The medical staff were generous with their time. The nurses brought not only clinical excellence to my bedside, but great humour and a listening ear of comfort. Their professionalism, education and, more importantly, their compassion, is much needed by all of us. Nurses make the world a better place.

The injuries to my body seem almost insignificant considering I didn’t think I’d survive. My foot is still weak; even after all this time, it’s still healing. I do fall over more easily, which can be a bit of a challenge, but you’ve got to laugh.

I was afraid of what would happen to our country in the aftermath of the siege. To be honest, I was scared stiff we’d have riots in the streets. The fact that the nation brought flowers instead truly eased my heart.

Louisa Hope features in this week’s issue of Stellar.

The impact of the siege and everything that happened afterwards has changed my life. I now feel somewhat fearless. I feel that life is short, so living it in a purposeful way is more important than ever. I don’t waste my time on the little things.

My happy place has been my involvement with the Prince of Wales Hospital Foundation’s Louisa Hope Fund for Nurses that we started after the siege. Being involved with fundraising, encouragement and support for our nurses is a privilege. The campaign is designed to give back to the nursing staff following the fantastic treatment I received while I was a patient at the hospital.

That fateful day four years ago changed all of our lives. One way or another, our whole country was impacted. I want to encourage all of us to not be afraid. We have so much more to gain from our multicultural nation, if we embrace it.

There’s a saying: “I believe in the good things coming.” When we join together, we can all enjoy a more positive life. Hope matters.

For more information, visit powhf.org.au/campaign/louisa-hope-fund-for-nurses.

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