Lysandra Callahan

Lysandra is a disability advocate, and nurse in a major paediatric

tertiary hospital. Her passion and purpose for supporting children and

families was catalysed by her extraordinary life.

Mother to three living children, two stepdaughters and two grand-

daughters, Lysandra’s start in motherhood was anything but ordinary.

She has lost four babies to a rare genetic disorder called Potters

Sequence, and then her son Joel (the inspiration for this chapter) was

born. Joel was diagnosed at fifteen months old with Angelman

Syndrome.

Joel is the reason for Lysandra’s career change to nursing, and why she

advocates for disability. She is a committee member for the Angelman

Syndrome Association of Australia and is on the frontline with helping

newly diagnosed families in Queensland to navigate their journey.

Lysandra lives with her wonderfully supportive, outnumbered

husband Kieran, on the outskirts of Brisbane with their menagerie of

animals including dogs, cats, fish and 18 chickens. In her rare spare

time, she loves to hike, travel and read.

Find Lysandra at www.instagram.com/lysandraw1

www.linkedin.com/in/lysandra-callahan-05220ab0