56: Vulnerability, Courage, and Cancer by Nicole Hintz

Today, we continue the conversation with a women who experienced something so intense yet turned it into the fabric of her gratitudes for life.  Allow me to begin with Nicole Hintz’ written words of the chilling day that shaped the rest of her life…“Early one Saturday morning, as a 16-year-old, I rode my bike up to the steepest hill to Lyn and Charlie’s house, which I did every second Saturday to clean their house. Lyn and Charlie were a hardworking couple who lived on a farm, so they were very early risers. Lyn gave me a job cleaning her house and wasteaching me how to save. I would clean the house for two-and-a-half hours, completing all items on a list, and at the end she would deposit money into a bank account she opened for me. Together we would then add up how much I had saved. We would also do craft together and sell what we made at the markets on a Sunday.This particular Saturday morning I arrived at their home, knocked on the door, called out and went inside. There was no reply so I went down to the shed but again couldn’t find them. I returned to the house and called my Dad, who I woke up, and said: “Dad, I can’t find Lyn and Charlie”. We both thought it was strange, but didn’t think much of it. I began cleaning the house; wiping down all the services. I noticed empty bullet shells down the hallway so I picked them all up not really thinking much of it. They were country people, who had parsley crops, and I knew they’d had problems with hares recently, so I just assumed Charlie had gone out hunting during the night and dropped the shells. While I was in the hallway, I noticed their bedroom door half open so I called out again but still there was no response. I peeked around the door and could see they were still in bed. I didn’t think it was normal, but I continued cleaning anyway and I would check on Lyn and Charlie from time to time. I even looked to see if there was movement, which I thought I’d seen at one point.A little while later, Gavin, Lyn and Charlie’s second son, had come home and asked me where his mum and dad were. I said they were still in bed asleep. He looked at me with a puzzled look and went down to the shed and caravan where he lived. More time passed. Gavin came back to the house and asked me if they had woken up. By this time I was a little worried and Gavin appeared to be worried too, so we both went down to their bedroom and opened the door. What I saw that day will remain with me for the rest of my life. I ran to the phone and called my Dad and said: “Dad someone has shot Lyn and Charlie”. Dad told me he’d be there soon - and he was. I don’t think he even got dressed. He was there within what seemed like seconds. He came inside and went to the bedroom, even though I told him not to, and then I remember seeing my strong father buckle at the knees using the walls to hold himself up.By this stage, Gavin was nowhere to be seen and Dad told me to wait outside for my mother. “I’m finding Gavin,” he said. Mum arrived and she called Triple Zero, but under the stress she couldn’t remember where she was so I took over the call and gave them details. I remember at this stage feeling no emotions. I was in shock and said to Mum, “why am I not crying?”. I told Mum I was worried because I had cleaned up all the evidence and what if the police thought it was me who had done it. I wanted to know why Lyn and Charlie and who would do this to them? They were the nicest and kindest people I’d ever met. The ambulance was first to arrive and I remember the officers coming up to me and saying. “I’m sorry, there was nothing we could do”. I didn’t say it to them, but thought, “no shit, tell me something I don’t know”. I don’t remember too much else of what was going on around me, only that my Dad had taken control and told the police quite firmly that I wouldn’t be going to the police station in the police car with Gavin. “I will take her myself,” he said, which he did.I had tThe Podcast's 7th SeasonWelcome to In the Game, a podcast where we aim to touch, move and inspire you to what's possible in life. My name is Sarah Maxwell and I am a self-proclaimed relationship engineer. Ever since I was a little girl, I was curious about how people work and how they interact with one another. With a degree in biopsychology representing my country of Canada in beach volleyball. With a degree in biopsychology representing my country of Canada in beach volleyball, retiring from sport into mindset and purpose coaching, I now spend my days running Chatta-box Media, where we aim to story-tell for brands through the medium of podcasting, all while raising an eight-year-old daughter with my partner of 24 years. We are now in season seven of this podcast, featuring a special series on women called who Knew that Was Work aimed at young women who want to broaden their horizon when it comes to career choosing. Go deeper into the pod and discover incredible stories of changemakers who manifest their dream lives. Gain tangible tools to apply to your own life by scrolling back to that initial season where we were more workbook focused. Have a laugh when we initially were coined the Nat and Sarah show, when my five-time Olympian partner, natalie Cook, and I bantered and had loads of fun interviewing and discovering our common passion individuals who rise to the occasion in life. Okay, now it's time to dive on in to this episode. Ge...