Cairns music teacher and professional musician, Connie Johnson, never imagined her life would change on the day she launched her fourth book, Musical Fun Begun Young. In the middle of celebrating, she found a small lump in her left breast — a moment that would alter everything.
Facing Treatment and Challenges
In 2010, Connie received an aggressive breast cancer diagnosis. Despite the shock, she continued promoting her book and website while preparing for treatment. “It kept me distracted, which in hindsight was a good thing,” she recalls. Surgery removed 13 lymph nodes and a large portion of her breast, followed by ten weeks of radiation and five years of oral chemotherapy.
Cairns lacked local radiation services, so Connie relocated to Coolangatta, living alone near John Flynn Hospital — where her husband, Brett, had recently had a double hip replacement. She spent Christmas Day at McDonalds because it was the only quiet place open. “All I wanted was to lie under the fan with a cool, wet cloth on my chest. It was a bleak holiday for us that year.”
Through treatment, Connie clung to her identity as a musician. She asked her surgeon to protect her lungs so she could continue playing her flute. Radiation spared her lungs, but by the final week, she lost 80 percent of her hearing. After her last hospital treatment, she rushed home just as Cyclone Yasi struck. The storm outside mirrored the chaos inside her — uncertainty, fatigue, and grief for her old life.
Finding Support and Rebuilding Confidence
Returning home brought new challenges. Teaching music with hearing loss felt overwhelming. Then, Connie discovered COUCH Cancer Hub (then COUCH Wellness Centre). COUCH offered more than practical support. Connie found community, understanding, and the space to rebuild. She joined art classes, exercise groups, and pottery sessions. The piano in the COUCH lounge became a quiet symbol of hope.
“I really appreciated the piano in the lounge. I was so happy to play whenever I was at COUCH,” she says.
Her hearing had changed, but her love for music remained. With COUCH’s support, Connie adapted, regained confidence, and returned to performing and teaching. “I credit COUCH with helping me recapture the confidence I needed to perform on stage and teach. My hearing hasn’t improved, but my confidence has, thanks to COUCH.”