AJ Gabriel Writes

AUTHOR’S NOTE

A woman wearing a red beret and a black jacket sitting on a bench by a foggy lake, looking over her shoulder.

About AJ Gabriel

Stroke Nurse. Writer. Advocate for Stories that Matter.

Welcome to AJ Gabriel Writes — a quiet corner of the internet where science meets soul, where clinical precision sits alongside poetic truth, and where stories are held with the same care as patients on a ward.

I’m AJ.
A Filipina nurse now living in the UK.
By day, I’m a Stroke Clinical Nurse Specialist, responding to brain emergencies with speed, structure, and unwavering presence. My work lives in the split seconds between crisis and comfort — assessing, deciding, acting — knowing that every choice can change a life.

Digital illustration of a woman with glasses and a red hat, holding an open book, symbolizing reading and storytelling.
An illustrated figure of a woman with long hair, wearing an orange top, gesturing with one hand while the phrase 'Be the best version of yourself' is written around her.

But behind the clipboard, behind the protocols, I’ve always been a writer. Long before I learned about GCS scores, CT scans, and thrombolysis, I learned the rhythm of sentences, the weight of words. I wrote my first stories in the margins of school notebooks, scribbled in cramped handwriting during class breaks. These days, I write them in hospital corridors between shifts, on late-night train rides home, and here — on these digital pages you’ve just wandered into.

What This Blog Is

This blog isn’t just about nursing.
It’s about everything that comes with it.
The grief no one talks about.
The resilience we hide behind laughter.
The silent moments between saving lives and trying to live our own.

Illustration of three women walking on geometric shapes, with varying outfits. The top figure wears a light pink blouse and white pants, the middle figure is in a flowing peach dress, and the bottom figure is dressed in a white top and blue shorts, all set against a minimal background.
Three cute cartoon cats stacked on top of each other, with one white cat waving and saying 'Hi' and a heart symbol next to them. The caption reads 'Cats make a house a home.'

You’ll find:

🩺 Clinical guides on stroke care, from FAST to thrombectomy, written in plain language and grounded in real-world experience.

✍️ Reflections on being an OFW nurse: homesickness, hustle, and the complicated beauty of building a life far from home.

📖 Chapters from my books— each written with honesty, vulnerability, and the hope that they find you at the right time.

💬 Letters, poetry, personal essays — for those who feel deeply and live gently.


I write for the:

Nurses still finding their feet and their voice

OFWs carrying whole families in their hearts

Quiet warriors who get up, show up, and don’t always get applause

This space is my way of saying:
You’re not alone.
Your story matters.
And yes, it’s okay to be both tired and hopeful.

An illustrated portrait of a woman with long dark hair, wearing a grey top, smiling subtly while touching her hair.

Why Follow This Blog?

Because I won’t pretend.
Not about nursing.
Not about life abroad.
Not about love, loss, or the weirdly specific joy of finding Filipino food in a cold British city.

If you’re here for:

  • Real talk with a poetic edge
  • Clinical content written with compassion
  • Little stories that make your heart nod and say, “Me too.”
    Then stay a while.

More About Me (FAQs)

An illustration featuring a pink envelope partially open with three question marks on the papers inside, next to a green coffee mug and a stack of books, set against a light background.

1. Where are you from?
I was born and raised in Toledo City, Cebu, Philippines. It’s where I learned the value of community, the strength of family, and the comfort of sunsets over the sea.

2. How long have you been a nurse?
I’ve been a registered nurse since 2011, and I moved to the UK in 2019 to work in the NHS.

3. Why stroke care?
Stroke nursing chose me as much as I chose it. I’ve always been drawn to moments that require both urgency and empathy — the kind of work where you need both a quick mind and a steady heart.

4. When did you start writing?
Before I ever wore a uniform. Writing has always been my anchor — a way to process, to remember, and to reach others. I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember, and I’ve published books like The Other Side of the Dream and Mind the Bedpan.

5. What can readers expect from your writing?
Honesty. Whether it’s a clinical guide, a travel journal, or a love letter to my fellow OFWs, my work is rooted in truth — sometimes gentle, sometimes raw, always real.

6. Do you write only about nursing?
No. Nursing is part of me, but so are my travels, my reflections, my poetry, and my everyday life abroad. I write about the human experience — the moments that connect us, even when our worlds look different.

7. How can I connect with you?
You can follow me on Instagram @superanjventures or reach out via my contact page. I love hearing from readers, whether you’re here for the nursing guides or the storytelling.

The Visual Diary

Subscribe. Wander. Come back when you’re weary.

✨ For quiet adventures, monthly reflections, spontaneous travels, and honest thoughts in between being a nurse, a daughter, a dreamer, and a human just trying to figure things out, visit my second blog:


👉 Superanjventure

With warmth and truth,
AJ

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© 2025 AJ Gabriel. All rights reserved.
All written content, poetry, and narratives on this blog are original works by AJ Gabriel unless otherwise credited. Some visual elements and illustrations featured throughout the site are AI-assisted and creatively directed by the author.
Unauthorized use, reproduction, or distribution of any material without written permission is strictly prohibited.

This blog is a personal reflection space. Views expressed are my own and do not represent any affiliated institutions.