A Rude Awakening: Recovering from Trauma

Competitive sport and veterinary medicine have always been my life's passions and have given me opportunities to travel the world. I 've competed internationally in sport climbing, cycling and triathlon. In 2015, I returned to Australia on a high as my all-female cycling team had won the prestigious cycling event Race Across America. We had been interviewed on The Morning Show and our documentary was released to the public. A few weeks later, I went off on a final training run before competing in the half ironman World Championship. That run was my last memory for 30 days as I had been involved in a hit and run accident caused by a speeding cyclist on the Anzac Bridge footpath. I sustained major head trauma and was placed in an induced coma. After waking up thirty days later, I spent three months in rehabilitation and was not allowed to drive or cycle for at least six months. The next two years were very traumatic as my memory was still affected and I had lost my purpose and direction. With strong support of friends and family, a year later, I returned to work as a veterinarian and continued to represent Australia in triathlon. I also got pregnant at 43 years of age and had a mini-me daughter. Seven years later, I was attacked by a dog at work resulting in a carotid artery tear, brain bleeds and ongoing seizures. Again, my life was changed in an instant. Using a lot of resilience, I was able to return to work seven months later. I am now regaining my purpose and identity. I hope my experience of managing recovery after trauma will be of help to readers who have struggled with their own life events.