Dorota Okopien

I love my job!  I enjoy working with people, helping them and taking care of their feet. 

I guess it’s in my genes as I come from a medical family. 

Ten years ago, I was diagnosed with Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP).  This is a rare genetic disorder causing thousands of polyps to grow where they should not.  I had to undergo life-saving surgery twice by the age of 20, and I have lost all of my colon!  I still have to be constantly monitored and undergo regular, invasive tests.  However, all this has not stopped me from loving life and trying to live it to the full!

As I couldn’t start university at the same time as my peers, I decided instead to undertake vocational courses in foot care while still in Poland.  After moving to the UK, I finished qualifying as a Foot Health Practitioner and started working at the Farnham Foot Clinic.

Despite my health problems, I try to achieve my dreams.  I have loved horses for as long as I can remember.  At the age of 21, I bought my first horse – and then a second one! My hard training over the years has paid off and I have become a competitive show jumper, taking part in competitions twice a month.

Although I haven’t got my own horse in the UK (yet), I still manage to remain active.  I love CrossFit training, enjoy hiking in the countryside, as well as climbing and travelling.