The Journey...the present

Four decades have passed: failures, low times, successes and great times

• I've always tried to learn from my mistakes and experiences - it’s the hard times that make me appreciate the good times
• My family are generally supportive; close friends and colleagues make no allowances and I wouldn't have it any other way
• I'm very much alive even with recent breast cancer scares; and I feel honoured to be able to mentor others going through their own cancer and/or amputation journeys.

Fitted out with the latest bionic technology available to (HD) amputation

• Finding the right prosthetic provider was tiresome; I wasted over six months and was unsuccessful with the first company I trialled in Melbourne.  I then found Northern Prosthetics In Ballina, NSW - where Imogen Dingle - my Prosthetic clinician and together with Damian Pinna, my physio at Murwillumbah hospital, have both helped make this possible - thank you for working with me as we explore the new technologies together
• Together with Ottobock Australia who kindly loaned me the bionic leg whilst trialling components and the TV show performance; I finally at the 11th hour got approval for funding from NDIS - thank you Ottobock!  Couldn't have done this without you
• We are all still working on a new socket and walking more efficiently – it takes time, but I'm getting there.

Getting NDIS funding has been the hardest part - a minefield of bureaucracy and constant battles of justification, it was mentally and emotionally draining

• I've finally got an amazing new leg which has opened up more positive communication with the general public, this has helped their understanding of people being 'different' not 'disabled'
• The physical journey has been thrilling after a public pledge on national TV to learn to dance (my parents met ballroom dancing) so the pledge was especially poignant for my family – so keep following my journey as it's been a full and rewarding life so far, but it's not over yet...