Dolly Strongblossom-Thatcher

Summary
Although to the eye, Dolly meets most of the common tropes one would associate with an elderly (grandmotherly) woman of her age, but she certainly breaks the mold when it comes to her eccentric, energetic and jovial personality. Having spent most of her years in the stars, being on board a Starship is where the peculiar doctor feels most at home.

Her life was happy and fulfilled for the most part, up until she tragically lost her husband, two sons and the many employees they called family when the Dominion destroyed her home and livelihood - The Civillian Cargo Vessel Infinity-Sky. The lifelong healthcare worker turned to alcohol and lost herself in a dire depression. Her bottom came when she lost her license in civillian practice due to various client concerns, and when it was discovered that she was impaired while providing care multiple times.

It was from that disgraced low, that Dolly gathered herself from the ashes and fought hard to be allowed to practice Medicine again. Even more surprising then pulling that miracle off, was her return to Starfleet. This was Dolly’s attempt at a fresh start and a desperate clinging to the ultimate hope that she could build a new family - and not be alone anymore.

History 2311-2326
Dolly was born January 1, 2311, to Harriet and Ronald Strongblossom, owners of the Civillian Cargo Vessel Frontier-Acheron. She was to the surprise of both of her parents, whom had initially decided not to bear children given their lifestyles and occupation. That being said, Dolly grew up in the most loving and nurturing of environments - although she didn’t have any other children to play with for a number of her formative years (besides leaves). Dolly’s parents owned and operated a successful trading and goods couriering company - which also meant that her entire childhood and teens years were spent on board the Frontier-Acheron (FA).

Life on board a cargo transport, while mundane at times - led to Dolly acquiring a very adaptive personality and wide range of skills, but she particularly took to her mothers trade. Harriet was a Nurse Pracitioner and the FA’s medical officer. Dolly often assisted her mother with duties while attending to her own remote and distance learning. Even though their lifestyle was very much not rooted in one particular area, both Harriet and Ronald were steadfast in their approach to their daughter’s educational opportunities and saw that she completed basic Federation grade schooling, with moderate successes.

When Dolly thinks back on these times, with her parents and the family that were those she grew up with (employees of the FA), it brings her great comfort. It wasn’t the most ideal of environments for a child to grow up in, but she would not have had it any other way.

After completing her grade schooling - Dolly applied to Starfleet Academy - it was a far reaching dream of hers, having run into Starfleet many times over her years on the FA. It seemed like the best approach to learning a profession but also being able to contribute to life in the stars. Her parents were very much supportive of her leaving the FA and broadening her horizons. It was little surprise to any of them that her application for Officer’s commission was denied - she certainly was no competition for her peers who had more opportunities to prepare for the application than herself. Starfleet did, however, offer her Nurses training with an Enlisted commission. Dolly was pleased to be let in at all and accepted with grace.

Her two years at the academy, an extension for specific nursing training and clinical time flew by and she loved every minute of it. Her teachers were quite impressed with the abilities she had come with, a credit to her upbringing and her own mother’s background and knowledge sharing.

Upon graduation from the Enlisted program within Starfleet in 2328, Dolly was granted a position on the USS Tempest - a large Excelsior Class vessel.

(Go to Service Record 2328 - 2334)

History 2334-2379
After leaving Starfleet, Dolly joined her younger-boyfriend and soon to be husband Antoine Thatcher on board the Civillian Cargo Vessel Infinity-Sky - a Liberty-Class freighter. Given her nursing experience, she took post at the vessels Medic and was able to provide medical services for most of the crew’s needs.

Antoine and Dolly married each other in 2335 and gave birth to their first son Peter in 2342. The two were in alignment with their plans to have children and raise them on the Infinity-Sky (IS). This was also the same year Dolly entered a distance-remote Nurse Practitioner training program from the University of Brazil. It was an immense challenge playing mother to a new-born, also being the IS’s medic and also completing advance training but with the support of their cargo ship family, she was able to do so. Their second son, Emmanuel was born six years after his older brother in 2348.

Life onboard their ship as a family was a happy one, full of love and learning. Dolly and Antoine had a family policy which allowed other employees to have their children on board - several qualified crew all rotated through to provide educational services.

In the following years, Dolly again wanted to expand her skills and become a fully qualified physician. In 2350 she was accepted in a distance-remote training program to advance her qualifications to a medical doctor. The program allowed her the flexibility to complete educational components and practicums (on world), so it did take her six years to complete her degree and certification while also balancing her duties to the Infinity-Sky family.

Even though her and Antoine both were encouraging of their children leaving the IS, to explore options away from life on a Starship - both her children elected to remain on board and train to contribute to and eventually take over the business from their parents.

Their cargo freighter business continued to thrive in the next couple of decades, and they made the necessary upgrades to the ever ageing Libery-class freighter they called home. Several small skirmishes in the late 2360s led to Dolly advocating for them to upgrade to something newer and more defensive, especially given their closer routes to Cardassian occupied space. The two, however, being so attached to their home kept pushing it off.

When the Dominion wars started, Dolly and Antoine ensured that young children and families were no longer allowed on the vessel - as it served to courrier goods on behalf of the Federation in volunteer conscription given the dire state of things.

In 2375, only a short while before the war ended - the Infinity-Sky was destroyed by the Jem’Hadar. Dolly had been convinced/forced into taking a leave (by her husband/sons) prior to the vessel’s demise, and found this out while back on Earth. The guilt, loss and suffering cause immense sorrow to the strong, bright and determined woman. Initially she pulled herself together well and obtained a local general-practice position at a civilian hospital in Colorado.

The cracks began to show in 2376, when months of severe alcoholism led to Dolly being discovered on multiple accounts of practicing medicine while impaired. Her colleagues discovered a misdiagnosis on her part as well, which thankfully did not lead to a fatal outcome for her patient.

Dolly was stripped of her license to practice - and this caused her to fall into an even deeper depression. After having reached the lowest of her lows, the disgraced doctor, widow and mother to none had her ‘moment’ - and made a decision to get professional help.

The counselling and rehab process led to Dolly somewhat healing from the losses she had endured on all fronts. She was able to process her grief and learn strategies to help her cope, which didn’t involve numbing her pain. Her counselor helped her apply to a special re-entry program to obtain her license back, and with approval from the civilian board, in 2378, Dolly began a year long battle to become a doctor once more.

Having completed her re-entry training, counselling and rehabilitation process - Dolly was granted her license back on a conditional and probationary period. She still needed to obtain a position to practice, in a place that was willing to take her on.

She yearned for a return to the stars and starship life, where she felt most comfortable and this led her to making contact with an old friend of the family - Captain Theodore Jackson.

(See Service Record 2379)

2328 - 2334
Dolly thrived in her service onboard the Tempest. She adored being in such tight-knit quarters to her peers, and even so, the Excelsior class vessel was by far more luxurious than anything she had even been used to.

She got along well with those in her department and was known for her uplifting and crazy antics - a bit of a prankster. Her superiors ensured her promotions were put through with ease and she was on track for being offered an opportunity to pursue an officer’s commission and more advanced nursing training.

In 2333, Dolly met her future husband (Antoine Thatcher) while on leave from the Tempest. It was love at first sight, a quick and passionate love. What was even more in alignment was the fact that Antoine himself was a cargo vessel Captain. Dolly served for six more months in Starfleet before making the decision to resign her position and join Antoine and his crew.

(Go to History 2334-2379)

2379 - Present
In 2379, after having connected with an old childhood friend of her husband, Captain Jackson Palmer, Dolly was able to enter an accelerated enlisted re-entry program within Starfleet. This was something she elected for given her age and not wanting to spend years obtaining an officer’s commission and starfleet medical training-certifications in tandem. Jackson had advocated for her to have a supervised position on his own vessel. Dolly passed her re-entry process and was granted a Warrant Officer commission at Grade 1 - largely due to the many years of experience she had in medical practice.

Jackson had seen to her confirmation as a Junior Medical Officer on the USS Lammergeier and Dolly joined the vessel prior to its journey with Taskforce 11 back into the Shackleton Expanse.

Appearance
Dolly has a very un-threatening appearance - she is of a shorter stature and only slightly overweight for her size. Her face has many wrinkles - a tapestry to the life of hard work and many losses she suffered like so many from the Dominion War. Depsite this, she has a catching smile. She often can be found wearing a head-band (despite regulations) to contain her frizzled and bushy hair.

Motivation
Dolly wants to prove herself to the crew of the Lammergeier - she lives in fear everyday that she will let her new crew/family down, but uses this fear as the driving force to her kind and compassionate practice of medicine. She only wants to build friendships and provide an adequate service to her fellow crew mates. She just wants to keep being a Doctor and doing good.

Episode 01

 * Day 01 | 0000 hrs. | Thread Title with Character 01, Character 02, Character 03