Across North Lakes, many mums will be celebrated this Mother’s Day, but for Caitlyn Pyatt, the day carries a deeper meaning shaped by resilience. It’s not about grand gestures, but small victories — a pain-free afternoon, a successful recovery, a moment where her 8-year-old son, Jack, can simply keep up with his friends.
A different kind of motherhood
Motherhood, for Caitlyn, has always come with an added layer of uncertainty. Jack was born with a small growth on his shoulder blade. By the time he was two, he was diagnosed with Multiple Hereditary Exostoses (MHE), a rare genetic condition that causes bone tumours to grow near joints.
As he grows, so do the challenges.
“He gets frustrated when he can’t keep up,” Caitlyn says. “That’s the hardest part, seeing him struggle with things other kids don’t think twice about.”
This Mother’s Day, her reflection isn’t on milestones or milestones missed, but on the resilience built along the way.
Between home and hospital
Life moves between the familiarity of home and the clinical corridors of Redcliffe Hospital for this family. Every couple of years, Jack undergoes surgery to remove or reduce the bone growths that affect his movement. Each procedure is delicate, each recovery uncertain.
“When he goes under anaesthetic, and then wakes up in pain and confused — that’s something you never get used to,” the mum says. But like many mothers, she shows up anyway. Every time.
Holding onto normal
Back in North Lakes, Caitlyn works hard to keep life feeling as normal as possible. School drop-offs, homework, sibling dynamics — all continue alongside hospital appointments and recovery periods.
Jack is one of four children, and his older brother Nathan also lives with the same condition. Despite this, Caitlyn avoids wrapping her children in cotton wool.
“We don’t overprotect him,” she says. “Jack sets his own limits.”
It’s an admirable philosophy — one that gives her children space to grow, even within constraints.
The balancing act
Like many mums, Caitlyn juggles work at Ray White North Lakes and family — but with added unpredictability. Working in property management, she relies on clear communication when Jack is in hospital, letting clients know when family needs come first.
“People are more understanding than you think,” she says.
Still, it requires constant adjustment, and it’s a mental load familiar to many mothers, intensified by medical uncertainty.
Mother’s Day is in the everyday things
For Caitlyn, Mother’s Day isn’t defined by flowers or cards. It’s found in the everyday things. It’s in resilience, patience, and the ability to keep going through the hardest moments.
“It makes you appreciate the simple things,” she says. “Just being able to move, to play, to feel okay.”
This year, like every year, she’ll likely spend it the same way she spends most days — showing up, supporting her children, and finding strength in the small wins.
Many mothers will recognise that kind of love.
Published 5-May-2026
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