Healthcare has always been more than a profession for me — it is a calling that grew from my desire to help people and make a difference in their lives. My journey in nursing is shaped by years of learning, clinical experience, leadership, and continuous professional growth.

From hospital corridors to mountain trails, photography has become a powerful way for one nurse to tell stories of courage, hope, and quiet beauty.

My journey began in a field far from cameras and storytelling. I was once a Medical Technologist, working in a hospital laboratory—specifically in the Blood Bank—for quite some time. Alongside my profession, I was also a hobbyist photographer and videographer. Life took a new direction when my wife brought me to the UK, but my passion for capturing moments had already been growing long before that move.

As a Surgical Care Practitioner, we provide support to the surgical team during the perioperative period. In our Trust, we primarily do bedside assisting for robotic-assisted procedures. We are rotated to different specialities that perform robotic procedures, so I make it a habit to check which list I'll be working on the day before.

Kung nurse ka sa UK — o papunta pa lang — isa sa mga unang reality checks na maririnig mo ay: “Mataas ang sweldo… pero mataas din ang gastos.”Totoo ‘yan. Pero hindi ibig sabihin na mahirap umasenso. Maraming Filipino nurses ang napapatunayan na with the right strategies, kaya mong pagandahin ang takbo ng buhay mo sa UK habang nakakapagpadala pa sa pamilya sa Pinas.

When Mary Joahnna-Carmelle Cruz, a theatre nurse in Reading, pursued photography, she wasn’t just seeking a hobby — she was searching for connection. Finding no local group for Filipino photographers in the UK, she started one herself. What began as a simple idea has grown into a thriving community of over 330 members, united by their shared love for photography.