Throwing modesty aside, Dawn Martin leaves no detail untold in her harrowing, and at times comical, inspirational memoir. Writing with both authenticity and humour, her decision to share her story keeps readers engaged from the very beginning. The story walks readers through Dawn's very own personal journey, detailing how her hope for a 'quick fix' cure for her stress urinary incontinence post childbirth, quickly turned to despair.

The book captures the raw, emotional, and often frustrating reality of challenging the very healthcare system she has worked in for years.

Dawn, who grew up in West Sussex, but now lives in Hampshire, works as a Nurse Practitioner for a GP surgery in Southsea. Since her surgery, Dawn has made it her mission to educate both colleagues and patients about the perils of mesh surgery. She says, "if I can stop just one woman from going through this hell, then I will have achieved my goal."

As one of the first members of ‘Sling The Mesh’, a campaign group founded in 2015 to raise awareness about the dangers of pelvic mesh implants, Dawn said: “I wrote the book about the mesh scandal because I had a story to tell and because I wanted to convey a powerful warning message.”

With honesty and humour, NHS nurse shares her battle with complications following pelvic mesh implant surgery

She continued: “For so long, transvaginal mesh implants were marketed as the ‘gold standard treatment’ for stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.

“But for thousands of women like me, they’ve caused unimaginable pain and life-changing complications. Fighting for mesh removal was one of the hardest battles of my life—physically, emotionally, and mentally.”

Meshed Up is an unflinching account of Dawn’s journey from a trusted healthcare professional to a patient navigating the system from the other side. The book delves into the realities of living with mesh complications, the struggle to be heard, and the determination it takes to reclaim one’s health.

“Sometimes, suffering is just suffering. It doesn’t make you stronger, and it doesn’t build character—it just hurts,” says Dawn. “I wrote Meshed Up to share my story and to help others feel less alone in their fight for answers and healing.”

“When nurses get sick, they have to navigate the NHS from a new perspective, but beneath the scrubs, nurses are patients too,” said Dawn, who lives in Waterlooville.

“This memoir documents my journey from caregiver to care receiver after mesh surgery and uncovers some shocking truths behind a ‘quick fix’ medical device that rapidly changed from a ‘gold standard treatment’ into a medical nightmare.”

With a blend of honesty, humour, and resilience, Dawn sheds light on the challenges and offers hope to others facing similar battles.

Dawn’s book is available now, and aims to inspire women affected by mesh complications, as well as spark important conversations about patient advocacy and medical accountability.

About the Author:

Dawn Martin is a nurse practitioner, and a mother of four, with 7 grandchildren and 5 step grandchildren. ‘Meshed Up’ is her fourth book, and she is currently working on a new memoir.

Meshed Up- a nurse's fight for healing and recovery following mesh implant surgery