Cath smells the roses

By Bridget Brady
LIFE is blossoming for Cranbourne florist Cath Maguire.
For the first time in years, she can walk around her High Street shop without crutches or a walking stick and arrange a bunch of flowers.
Frustrating years of relying on other people are over, and Cath says she has her life back.
Since she was a teenager, Cath had troubles with her legs. She believed an illness she had as a child was the reason for the weakness in her bones.
About five years ago, Cath’s leg broke while she was walking. But complications arose when she discovered she was allergic to titanium, when a rod was placed in her leg.
“It got to the stage where I couldn’t walk. It was a struggle. But I have a high pain tolerance,” she said.
Cath said the time came for her to have both knees replaced, and she has not looked back since.
Cath used to do ballroom dancing, but stopped because of her aching legs when she was about 16.
This year, Cath was able to dance again.
She said she wanted to encourage others who were worried about getting knee replacements to “go for it”.
“I never thought there was light at the end of the tunnel, but there is,” she said.
“It’s very frustrating and annoying when you have to ask people to do everything for you.”
Cath said she plans on fulfilling her dream of going to Canada to check out the wild bears within the next two years.
“I’m a teddy bear freak,” she laughed.