1 00:00:10,405 --> 00:00:14,405 Speaker 1: You're listening to a mother and Mia podcast. Mama Miya 2 00:00:14,485 --> 00:00:17,125 Speaker 1: acknowledges the traditional owners of land and waters that this 3 00:00:17,165 --> 00:00:20,685 Speaker 1: podcast is recorded on. Hello, it's me a popping into 4 00:00:20,845 --> 00:00:24,645 Speaker 1: ears because I wanted to reshare one of our most 5 00:00:24,685 --> 00:00:27,365 Speaker 1: downloaded episodes of No Filter ever. It was an interview 6 00:00:27,405 --> 00:00:32,365 Speaker 1: that I did with Sophie Dalzzio and twenty twenty. She 7 00:00:32,645 --> 00:00:36,125 Speaker 1: was a name that many people knew, and you'll hear 8 00:00:36,165 --> 00:00:39,445 Speaker 1: a little bit about her experience in a second from her. 9 00:00:40,165 --> 00:00:44,485 Speaker 1: But the update is that her personal life has taken 10 00:00:44,725 --> 00:00:48,245 Speaker 1: a really beautiful turn. She reconnected with a man called 11 00:00:48,325 --> 00:00:51,045 Speaker 1: Joseph Soileno, who was a friend that she'd known since 12 00:00:51,085 --> 00:00:53,605 Speaker 1: she was six years old. They got engaged in twenty 13 00:00:53,645 --> 00:00:56,685 Speaker 1: twenty three, and in September last year, Sophie and Joseph 14 00:00:57,285 --> 00:01:01,685 Speaker 1: had a little boy called Frankie. Here's my conversation with 15 00:01:01,845 --> 00:01:05,885 Speaker 1: Sophie Dalzsio. It's one of the most extraordinary stories ever 16 00:01:05,965 --> 00:01:08,525 Speaker 1: been told on this show. Hi. 17 00:01:12,205 --> 00:01:15,165 Speaker 2: Yes, Yes, Elbot. 18 00:01:17,805 --> 00:01:22,845 Speaker 1: You for having us. You'll remember her name, and if 19 00:01:22,885 --> 00:01:24,845 Speaker 1: it just rings a bell but you can't place it, 20 00:01:25,085 --> 00:01:29,165 Speaker 1: you'll remember her story. On an ordinary day in two 21 00:01:29,245 --> 00:01:32,205 Speaker 1: thousand and three, an elderly driver crashed into a Sydney 22 00:01:32,285 --> 00:01:36,125 Speaker 1: childcare center, pinning two toddlers underneath the burning car. It 23 00:01:36,165 --> 00:01:38,125 Speaker 1: was right before Christmas and all the kids were having 24 00:01:38,205 --> 00:01:42,645 Speaker 1: nap time, excitedly waiting for Santa to visit. Two year 25 00:01:42,685 --> 00:01:46,165 Speaker 1: old Sophie Delizio and her little friend Molly Wood were 26 00:01:46,205 --> 00:01:49,005 Speaker 1: horribly injured and for a time it wasn't known if 27 00:01:49,005 --> 00:01:52,205 Speaker 1: Sophie would survive. She had burns to eighty five percent 28 00:01:52,405 --> 00:01:55,005 Speaker 1: of her tiny body. She lost both her legs below 29 00:01:55,005 --> 00:01:59,125 Speaker 1: her knee, her right hand and her right ear. She survived, 30 00:01:59,125 --> 00:02:02,245 Speaker 1: though she left hospital. Her family and it seemed all 31 00:02:02,245 --> 00:02:07,445 Speaker 1: of Australia celebrated a miracle. And then, unbelievably, less than 32 00:02:07,445 --> 00:02:11,365 Speaker 1: three years later, Sophie was here by another car whose 33 00:02:11,445 --> 00:02:15,445 Speaker 1: driver had a seizure, just as her nanny carefully pushed 34 00:02:15,445 --> 00:02:19,885 Speaker 1: her wheelchair across the pedestrian crossing. This time the car 35 00:02:19,925 --> 00:02:23,645 Speaker 1: through Sophie more than eighteen meters from her wheelchair. She 36 00:02:23,725 --> 00:02:27,285 Speaker 1: had a broken jaw, broken ribs, fractured collar bone and 37 00:02:27,325 --> 00:02:29,725 Speaker 1: a punctured lung, as well as bleeding on her brain 38 00:02:30,125 --> 00:02:34,405 Speaker 1: and a heart attack. Again, she nearly died, and again 39 00:02:34,965 --> 00:02:39,205 Speaker 1: Australia prayed for Sophie. But after all of that, Sophie 40 00:02:39,205 --> 00:02:44,245 Speaker 1: lived and how she lived today, she's one of the 41 00:02:44,325 --> 00:02:47,645 Speaker 1: most remarkable nineteen year olds you could ever hope to meet. 42 00:02:47,845 --> 00:02:50,485 Speaker 2: For me, and my prosthetics are my main type of freedom. 43 00:02:50,845 --> 00:02:53,085 Speaker 2: I'm happy to use my wheelchair outside the house, but 44 00:02:53,725 --> 00:02:55,885 Speaker 2: I need my prosthetics to drive my car. I need 45 00:02:55,885 --> 00:02:58,405 Speaker 2: my prosthetics to, you know, if I'm out of place 46 00:02:58,445 --> 00:03:01,405 Speaker 2: with stairs, to walk up the stairs. So I think 47 00:03:01,445 --> 00:03:04,045 Speaker 2: the hardest days are the ones where I just have 48 00:03:04,165 --> 00:03:04,765 Speaker 2: to do nothing. 49 00:03:05,365 --> 00:03:07,965 Speaker 1: From Mamma Maya, I'm Meya Friedman, and you're listening to 50 00:03:07,965 --> 00:03:12,085 Speaker 1: No Filter, a weekly podcasts with people like Sophie who 51 00:03:12,085 --> 00:03:14,805 Speaker 1: tell their stories very candidly and aren't afraid to be 52 00:03:14,885 --> 00:03:19,005 Speaker 1: all kinds of vulnerable. Today I am speaking to that 53 00:03:19,085 --> 00:03:24,645 Speaker 1: little girl, Sophie Delizio and her mum Caroline Carolyn. What's that? 54 00:03:24,965 --> 00:03:26,925 Speaker 1: It's just such a funny interview because I'm saying, what's 55 00:03:26,965 --> 00:03:29,445 Speaker 1: the best way to talk to you about it? Because 56 00:03:29,485 --> 00:03:32,405 Speaker 1: I guess in another situation I would say, so tell 57 00:03:32,405 --> 00:03:35,805 Speaker 1: me about the day. But I just feel instinctively that 58 00:03:35,885 --> 00:03:38,005 Speaker 1: I don't want to make you relive it in that way. 59 00:03:38,245 --> 00:03:40,725 Speaker 1: So I want to ask you about the first couple 60 00:03:40,765 --> 00:03:43,045 Speaker 1: of years of your life, of which you'll have no 61 00:03:43,165 --> 00:03:46,405 Speaker 1: memory of it. See what was family life like? 62 00:03:46,805 --> 00:03:50,125 Speaker 3: Well, it was pretty chaotic because we were told when 63 00:03:50,245 --> 00:03:52,645 Speaker 3: the exitent version that we've been living in hospital was 64 00:03:52,725 --> 00:03:55,085 Speaker 3: so for a year, and we made it out after 65 00:03:55,125 --> 00:03:57,925 Speaker 3: six and a half months, and that to me was 66 00:03:57,925 --> 00:04:02,045 Speaker 3: a testament to her true grit and equally the team 67 00:04:02,085 --> 00:04:05,125 Speaker 3: of medical practitioners and support people we had around us 68 00:04:05,165 --> 00:04:07,405 Speaker 3: at the time that allowed us to get out the 69 00:04:07,405 --> 00:04:09,685 Speaker 3: doors of the hospital. You don't want to spend any 70 00:04:09,725 --> 00:04:12,485 Speaker 3: more time in hospital than you can because there's sick people, 71 00:04:12,565 --> 00:04:16,085 Speaker 3: it's infection, there's a greater risk in hospital than being 72 00:04:16,125 --> 00:04:18,725 Speaker 3: out of hospital. So the time was to come and 73 00:04:18,885 --> 00:04:23,005 Speaker 3: we moved home and had round the nursing care for 74 00:04:23,085 --> 00:04:26,605 Speaker 3: the remainder of the year, so twenty four our care 75 00:04:26,685 --> 00:04:28,685 Speaker 3: nursing care to support us support. 76 00:04:28,805 --> 00:04:32,125 Speaker 1: So it's so funny I asked you about the first 77 00:04:32,165 --> 00:04:34,405 Speaker 1: two years, and you went straight to after the accident. 78 00:04:35,045 --> 00:04:37,765 Speaker 1: I actually met before the accident, the first two years 79 00:04:37,805 --> 00:04:41,205 Speaker 1: of her life, not the first two years. After day, 80 00:04:42,325 --> 00:04:44,725 Speaker 1: because I keep thinking, I'm sure you've read Lee Sales 81 00:04:44,765 --> 00:04:48,565 Speaker 1: is an incredible book. Any ordinary day about how when 82 00:04:48,645 --> 00:04:52,525 Speaker 1: big traumatic things happen, life is pretty ordinary until that 83 00:04:52,645 --> 00:04:55,965 Speaker 1: moment when it happens suddenly it is really so what 84 00:04:56,045 --> 00:04:57,245 Speaker 1: was your ordinary life like? 85 00:04:57,445 --> 00:04:59,925 Speaker 3: Well, Ron and I were both running our own businesses. 86 00:05:00,165 --> 00:05:05,005 Speaker 3: It was that juggle of parents managing work and little kids, 87 00:05:05,125 --> 00:05:06,885 Speaker 3: little babies. 88 00:05:06,365 --> 00:05:08,845 Speaker 1: And two and four with Mitch four and you were to. 89 00:05:09,525 --> 00:05:13,085 Speaker 3: Two and four and finding the right daycres. And we'd 90 00:05:13,165 --> 00:05:16,525 Speaker 3: moved from Erskine where we lived, and we had built 91 00:05:16,645 --> 00:05:18,605 Speaker 3: a house and see fourth and it was kind of like, 92 00:05:19,085 --> 00:05:20,725 Speaker 3: you know, we don't have we haven't been on our 93 00:05:20,725 --> 00:05:24,445 Speaker 3: list for long enough for daycare. You go into the 94 00:05:24,525 --> 00:05:26,925 Speaker 3: card of the oh, no, I failed as a parent 95 00:05:27,485 --> 00:05:29,245 Speaker 3: because I haven't kind of got. 96 00:05:29,045 --> 00:05:33,165 Speaker 1: There maybe when that was your biggest problem, you know, 97 00:05:33,765 --> 00:05:35,605 Speaker 1: daycare because of splash school. 98 00:05:35,725 --> 00:05:36,925 Speaker 3: You know, that's sort of focus. 99 00:05:37,405 --> 00:05:40,325 Speaker 1: So if I don't remember being two or three, or 100 00:05:40,565 --> 00:05:42,525 Speaker 1: I think my first memory kicks in around four, but 101 00:05:42,565 --> 00:05:46,965 Speaker 1: that's because my childhood was fairly unremarkable. What's your first memory? 102 00:05:47,565 --> 00:05:51,365 Speaker 2: I honestly have no idea. My brain's like some things 103 00:05:51,445 --> 00:05:53,285 Speaker 2: I don't know if they're memories or like things have 104 00:05:53,405 --> 00:05:55,605 Speaker 2: just made up in my mind, or being told stories 105 00:05:55,605 --> 00:06:00,405 Speaker 2: that you've heard, Yeah, for example, yeah, exactly. So I 106 00:06:00,445 --> 00:06:04,725 Speaker 2: think my first memory is at a Christmas tree. I 107 00:06:04,725 --> 00:06:07,525 Speaker 2: can't remember if I was injured, like disabled or not. 108 00:06:07,885 --> 00:06:10,365 Speaker 2: I have no recollection of that. I just remember Dad 109 00:06:10,365 --> 00:06:11,965 Speaker 2: lifted me up and putting the still on top of 110 00:06:12,005 --> 00:06:15,165 Speaker 2: the Christmas tree. So I think that's my first memory. 111 00:06:15,205 --> 00:06:17,405 Speaker 2: But again, Christmas comes about every year. It could be 112 00:06:17,445 --> 00:06:19,565 Speaker 2: any of those years, and you could have seen it 113 00:06:19,605 --> 00:06:22,045 Speaker 2: in a photo exactly, because I know this photos around 114 00:06:22,085 --> 00:06:22,445 Speaker 2: that tree. 115 00:06:22,525 --> 00:06:25,085 Speaker 1: Do you remember hospital the first time? Nope, I don't 116 00:06:25,125 --> 00:06:26,245 Speaker 1: hospital the second time. 117 00:06:26,445 --> 00:06:29,085 Speaker 2: Nope. I have no recollection of hospitals at that time, 118 00:06:29,405 --> 00:06:33,245 Speaker 2: but I have, like, I get these feelings whenever I 119 00:06:33,325 --> 00:06:36,325 Speaker 2: go into because I went to Children's Hospital at Westmead 120 00:06:36,885 --> 00:06:40,645 Speaker 2: and there's this one room where I remember the feeling 121 00:06:40,685 --> 00:06:43,325 Speaker 2: of being in when I had one of my accents 122 00:06:43,445 --> 00:06:46,085 Speaker 2: or a major surgery, and I just remember ufter pain. 123 00:06:46,645 --> 00:06:48,925 Speaker 2: I can't remember the moment or anything, but I can't 124 00:06:48,925 --> 00:06:49,485 Speaker 2: go into that. 125 00:06:49,485 --> 00:06:52,405 Speaker 1: Room still to the state a specific room in Yeah, it's. 126 00:06:52,285 --> 00:06:54,645 Speaker 2: One room with a silver bath tub in the middle 127 00:06:54,645 --> 00:06:58,445 Speaker 2: where i'd get cleaned and they'd strip all my bandages down. Yeah, 128 00:06:58,525 --> 00:07:01,125 Speaker 2: that was not my favorite room in the hospital. But 129 00:07:01,165 --> 00:07:03,845 Speaker 2: that's the only like feeling I have from the early 130 00:07:03,925 --> 00:07:04,285 Speaker 2: days of. 131 00:07:04,285 --> 00:07:07,405 Speaker 1: Hospital, because I imagine it would all have just blurred, 132 00:07:07,565 --> 00:07:07,925 Speaker 1: like the. 133 00:07:07,845 --> 00:07:11,045 Speaker 2: Operations as the and the high amount of medication I 134 00:07:11,125 --> 00:07:13,125 Speaker 2: was on kind of dulled it in my brain, and 135 00:07:13,165 --> 00:07:15,845 Speaker 2: the protective mechanisms like blocking it out of my mind 136 00:07:15,965 --> 00:07:16,485 Speaker 2: sort of thing. 137 00:07:16,605 --> 00:07:20,205 Speaker 1: So how about you have got very strong memories? Yeah, 138 00:07:20,325 --> 00:07:21,085 Speaker 1: in different ways. 139 00:07:21,125 --> 00:07:23,525 Speaker 3: And it's interesting because I'll talk to friends and they go, well, 140 00:07:23,565 --> 00:07:26,565 Speaker 3: remember that, Oh, yes, I do now now that you've 141 00:07:26,605 --> 00:07:30,045 Speaker 3: reminded me. And it's not from necessarily blocking things out, 142 00:07:30,085 --> 00:07:32,645 Speaker 3: but you move on to some of the specifics of 143 00:07:32,725 --> 00:07:36,245 Speaker 3: the events. And it was four and a half months 144 00:07:36,245 --> 00:07:37,965 Speaker 3: before we were told whether she would live or not, 145 00:07:38,605 --> 00:07:41,405 Speaker 3: so you kind of live every day knowing that that 146 00:07:41,445 --> 00:07:44,485 Speaker 3: could be her last and so your focus is just 147 00:07:44,565 --> 00:07:48,605 Speaker 3: on that day. Some of the small, you know, things 148 00:07:48,605 --> 00:07:51,245 Speaker 3: that happened slip away in the memory bank. 149 00:07:51,645 --> 00:07:54,005 Speaker 1: I've heard Sophie talk about the fact that you were 150 00:07:54,285 --> 00:07:56,965 Speaker 1: asked whether you wanted to turn her life support off. 151 00:07:57,925 --> 00:08:00,445 Speaker 1: Was that one conversation or was that sort of a 152 00:08:00,565 --> 00:08:03,965 Speaker 1: series of conversations over that time when she was critically ill. 153 00:08:04,085 --> 00:08:06,125 Speaker 3: It was when she was in intensive care. She was 154 00:08:06,125 --> 00:08:08,685 Speaker 3: an intensive pier about two and a half months, so 155 00:08:08,765 --> 00:08:11,725 Speaker 3: we were given We're given the option twice actually in 156 00:08:11,765 --> 00:08:12,765 Speaker 3: the first week. 157 00:08:13,245 --> 00:08:15,565 Speaker 1: How does that work? Does someone just sort of sidle 158 00:08:15,645 --> 00:08:17,525 Speaker 1: up to you and say, this is a hard conversation. 159 00:08:17,725 --> 00:08:21,565 Speaker 3: Yeah, just the nature of the catastrophic injuries. In fact, 160 00:08:21,565 --> 00:08:25,085 Speaker 3: I recounted this after the Undau show to doctor Peter, 161 00:08:25,205 --> 00:08:28,245 Speaker 3: Sophie's surgeon, who remains her surgeon to this. 162 00:08:28,365 --> 00:08:31,085 Speaker 2: Day, from day one to really and. 163 00:08:31,125 --> 00:08:34,325 Speaker 3: I said, Peter, I recall the words, and he would 164 00:08:34,325 --> 00:08:37,925 Speaker 3: say to me, Carolyn, because we'd go answer that, and 165 00:08:37,965 --> 00:08:40,245 Speaker 3: he'd look at me in the eye and he'd say, Carolyn, 166 00:08:40,325 --> 00:08:43,325 Speaker 3: how much can a kohala bear? I mean, it's just 167 00:08:43,365 --> 00:08:44,325 Speaker 3: such a nice way to go. 168 00:08:44,485 --> 00:08:46,445 Speaker 1: That's a beautiful way to say the most. 169 00:08:48,125 --> 00:08:53,445 Speaker 3: And he has the most amazing knack of saying in 170 00:08:53,445 --> 00:08:57,205 Speaker 3: that sort of extreme environment something where you can actually 171 00:08:57,245 --> 00:09:01,085 Speaker 3: connect to what he's saying because of the intensity of what's. 172 00:09:00,765 --> 00:09:04,125 Speaker 1: Happening and the shock I imagine. 173 00:09:03,645 --> 00:09:06,245 Speaker 3: The shaku and I often count, you know, explain to 174 00:09:06,285 --> 00:09:09,605 Speaker 3: people it's like being dropped intoors and and all this 175 00:09:09,725 --> 00:09:11,805 Speaker 3: going on. We're on around you in a foreign country 176 00:09:11,845 --> 00:09:14,925 Speaker 3: because you don't know the language and it's the medical 177 00:09:15,005 --> 00:09:18,605 Speaker 3: speak too, which sort of compounds. I just don't get 178 00:09:18,645 --> 00:09:22,685 Speaker 3: what's going on. And over time you acclimatize and. 179 00:09:22,645 --> 00:09:25,485 Speaker 1: You become fluent and in this language you never wanted. 180 00:09:25,285 --> 00:09:26,285 Speaker 3: To learn totally. 181 00:09:26,525 --> 00:09:28,765 Speaker 2: But he's always been good with that. Like the amount 182 00:09:28,805 --> 00:09:31,685 Speaker 2: of procedures I have, I just know basic words of 183 00:09:31,685 --> 00:09:34,165 Speaker 2: what they are. I have no idea what the technicality 184 00:09:34,165 --> 00:09:36,565 Speaker 2: of stuff behind it is. I just know, like i'd 185 00:09:36,605 --> 00:09:38,045 Speaker 2: go to my doctor. I'm like, I'm having this done. 186 00:09:38,085 --> 00:09:40,605 Speaker 2: He's like, yeah, sure, and so simple to me. Like 187 00:09:40,645 --> 00:09:43,485 Speaker 2: it's just like we make up medication I had when 188 00:09:43,525 --> 00:09:46,085 Speaker 2: I was young. We called wobbly medicine. We have no 189 00:09:46,125 --> 00:09:47,805 Speaker 2: idea what the actual medical. 190 00:09:49,245 --> 00:09:50,085 Speaker 3: Don't like that. 191 00:09:52,605 --> 00:09:54,525 Speaker 1: He sounds like he had an amazing bedside manner. 192 00:09:54,565 --> 00:09:56,045 Speaker 2: Oh wonderful. He's great. 193 00:09:56,565 --> 00:10:01,525 Speaker 1: He's specializing kids burns in kids. Is that his specialty? 194 00:10:01,925 --> 00:10:05,725 Speaker 3: Yes, he's a plastic surgeon. He have plastics at Westmead, 195 00:10:06,165 --> 00:10:09,925 Speaker 3: but he had done a lot of work in America Shriners, 196 00:10:09,965 --> 00:10:12,925 Speaker 3: and so it's an expert in burns as well. And 197 00:10:13,005 --> 00:10:16,205 Speaker 3: because of the requirement of all the specialists, literally at 198 00:10:16,245 --> 00:10:20,765 Speaker 3: Christmas was pulling everyone back from Christmas holidays and so 199 00:10:20,845 --> 00:10:22,725 Speaker 3: we looked out with doctor Penn and you know, the 200 00:10:22,725 --> 00:10:25,365 Speaker 3: burns unit generally the stuff, all the stuff and the 201 00:10:25,365 --> 00:10:28,605 Speaker 3: burns unit. Because we had dealings with everyone. It's fantastic. 202 00:10:28,725 --> 00:10:31,925 Speaker 3: But we just have had Peter stay with us all 203 00:10:31,925 --> 00:10:32,405 Speaker 3: this time. 204 00:10:32,805 --> 00:10:35,085 Speaker 2: And thankfully he works at adult hospitals as well. 205 00:10:35,165 --> 00:10:39,125 Speaker 1: So I was going to say transitioning now, are you nineteen? Yes, 206 00:10:39,165 --> 00:10:42,885 Speaker 1: I am, so when you're eighteen. Yeah, From what I hear, 207 00:10:42,925 --> 00:10:46,165 Speaker 1: it can be quite a jarring experience to be put 208 00:10:46,205 --> 00:10:47,325 Speaker 1: into that adult system. 209 00:10:47,845 --> 00:10:50,965 Speaker 2: One of the best things was that my hospital from 210 00:10:51,085 --> 00:10:53,965 Speaker 2: children's to adults was literally just down the road from 211 00:10:54,005 --> 00:10:57,205 Speaker 2: each other, so it wasn't like a whole new atmosphere 212 00:10:57,205 --> 00:10:59,925 Speaker 2: and all that. And I had the same doctor. My 213 00:11:00,045 --> 00:11:04,125 Speaker 2: doctor has anistus that works with them at multiple hospitals 214 00:11:04,365 --> 00:11:07,845 Speaker 2: and we've met before and basically my doctor and anisotus 215 00:11:07,885 --> 00:11:11,325 Speaker 2: are the most like important to know my needs because 216 00:11:11,405 --> 00:11:14,565 Speaker 2: I have terrible veins and certain medications don't work on 217 00:11:14,565 --> 00:11:15,245 Speaker 2: me and all of that. 218 00:11:15,445 --> 00:11:17,365 Speaker 1: You want that continuity exactly. 219 00:11:17,605 --> 00:11:21,085 Speaker 2: So having doctor Peter know everyone was the simplest thing. 220 00:11:21,605 --> 00:11:23,925 Speaker 1: It was to explain what wobbling medicine was exactly. 221 00:11:24,405 --> 00:11:26,365 Speaker 2: You didn't have to Yeah exact, I didn't have to 222 00:11:26,365 --> 00:11:30,125 Speaker 2: say anything, and the nurses changed no matter how many 223 00:11:30,165 --> 00:11:32,645 Speaker 2: times you go to the same hospital, so it wasn't 224 00:11:32,685 --> 00:11:35,365 Speaker 2: really that big of an issue. I enjoyed the bigger 225 00:11:35,445 --> 00:11:39,925 Speaker 2: rooms and no crying babies done the hall, so yeah, yeah, 226 00:11:39,965 --> 00:11:42,845 Speaker 2: it was really for me. I was very grateful for 227 00:11:42,885 --> 00:11:45,485 Speaker 2: it to be such an easy experience transition. It's all 228 00:11:45,485 --> 00:11:47,885 Speaker 2: thanks to my doctor just for making it so simple. 229 00:11:48,405 --> 00:11:51,805 Speaker 1: Caroline, What about for you and your husband the transition 230 00:11:52,125 --> 00:11:55,925 Speaker 1: out of the children's hospital system and into the adults. 231 00:11:55,565 --> 00:11:59,725 Speaker 3: One, Yeah, that's really it's difficult transitioning as a parent 232 00:11:59,805 --> 00:12:04,325 Speaker 3: when you've been there for sixteen years essentially, and you 233 00:12:04,365 --> 00:12:07,805 Speaker 3: know the ots and you know the canteen stuff and 234 00:12:07,845 --> 00:12:12,045 Speaker 3: the canteen stuff. Still out about Mitch. How's Mitch going? 235 00:12:12,205 --> 00:12:16,445 Speaker 3: You know, it's becomes a family and although we were 236 00:12:16,485 --> 00:12:19,525 Speaker 3: told very early on, don't let this become your second 237 00:12:19,565 --> 00:12:23,245 Speaker 3: home or anything, but in many ways, the connections you 238 00:12:23,325 --> 00:12:25,885 Speaker 3: make at the time is what makes it manage well 239 00:12:25,885 --> 00:12:30,845 Speaker 3: and what gets you through, and that familiarity in extreme 240 00:12:31,125 --> 00:12:36,605 Speaker 3: circumstance and certainly ongoing medical care, takes an element of 241 00:12:36,685 --> 00:12:39,885 Speaker 3: stress out of the mix because you have a reliance 242 00:12:39,885 --> 00:12:42,845 Speaker 3: on these people whom you've known for years, and so 243 00:12:42,885 --> 00:12:46,045 Speaker 3: therefore you trust them implicitly with the care of your child. 244 00:12:46,485 --> 00:12:51,645 Speaker 3: And I was grateful for that. So when transition was 245 00:12:51,725 --> 00:12:55,885 Speaker 3: taking place and still is okay, so how are we 246 00:12:55,925 --> 00:12:58,085 Speaker 3: going to do that? Now? We know we could go 247 00:12:58,165 --> 00:13:02,005 Speaker 3: back and call anyone of those specialists for advice. That's 248 00:13:02,045 --> 00:13:05,045 Speaker 3: a good thing. We know the families who've transitioned, so 249 00:13:05,085 --> 00:13:07,565 Speaker 3: you talk to them about how they've gone about it. 250 00:13:08,045 --> 00:13:09,245 Speaker 1: Do you get shut out as an. 251 00:13:09,125 --> 00:13:13,485 Speaker 3: At Yeah, you do. Actually, I mean you don't. 252 00:13:13,605 --> 00:13:16,925 Speaker 1: Legally you can make whatever decisions you want now, right. 253 00:13:17,125 --> 00:13:20,405 Speaker 3: Yeah, Yeah, there's certainly that too. So when you transition 254 00:13:20,405 --> 00:13:22,165 Speaker 3: to an adults hospital, it's kind of like, well you 255 00:13:22,165 --> 00:13:25,245 Speaker 3: can come, you know. Yeah, the conversations up with Sophie 256 00:13:25,285 --> 00:13:25,885 Speaker 3: and not with you. 257 00:13:26,245 --> 00:13:29,085 Speaker 2: And especially with COVID because I had a surgery a 258 00:13:29,125 --> 00:13:32,085 Speaker 2: few months ago and that then being like only you're 259 00:13:32,125 --> 00:13:34,285 Speaker 2: not allowed to have a certain amount of visitors, So 260 00:13:34,405 --> 00:13:38,485 Speaker 2: having mum in with me was a risk they had 261 00:13:38,525 --> 00:13:39,445 Speaker 2: to consider taking. 262 00:13:39,805 --> 00:13:42,165 Speaker 3: Yeah, and we usually had a bit of a rotation 263 00:13:42,405 --> 00:13:45,285 Speaker 3: in the past, but doctor Bittot was really good about 264 00:13:45,525 --> 00:13:48,885 Speaker 3: involving Sophie in the discussions around his surgery really from 265 00:13:48,925 --> 00:13:49,885 Speaker 3: when you're about twelve. 266 00:13:50,645 --> 00:13:53,845 Speaker 2: Yeah, I would decide a few months in advance. I'd 267 00:13:53,845 --> 00:13:57,525 Speaker 2: have my physios recommend certain skin releases and sky releases 268 00:13:57,565 --> 00:14:00,405 Speaker 2: that I needed, but ultimately my doctor would come up 269 00:14:00,405 --> 00:14:02,365 Speaker 2: to me. It's like, what do you want? So it 270 00:14:02,445 --> 00:14:03,285 Speaker 2: all be my decision. 271 00:14:03,365 --> 00:14:05,765 Speaker 1: What would your choice be between? Because I would have 272 00:14:05,765 --> 00:14:09,005 Speaker 1: thought that surgeries you needed wouldn't be discretionary. 273 00:14:09,645 --> 00:14:12,325 Speaker 2: The ones I had to have probably up until I 274 00:14:12,365 --> 00:14:15,485 Speaker 2: was I think fourteen was my last one was my 275 00:14:15,565 --> 00:14:17,685 Speaker 2: bone trimming on the end of my legs, So that 276 00:14:17,765 --> 00:14:21,325 Speaker 2: one I had, you know, so it's literally when my 277 00:14:21,485 --> 00:14:24,925 Speaker 2: bones are growing, but my skin is too the scarring, 278 00:14:24,965 --> 00:14:27,445 Speaker 2: it's too bad for it to stretch at the same pace, 279 00:14:27,845 --> 00:14:31,445 Speaker 2: So they'd have to trim the bones every year to 280 00:14:31,525 --> 00:14:35,085 Speaker 2: maintain my skin, basically not let my bones break through 281 00:14:35,085 --> 00:14:35,485 Speaker 2: my skin. 282 00:14:35,605 --> 00:14:38,245 Speaker 1: But does that mean that you're what are these bones 283 00:14:38,245 --> 00:14:43,565 Speaker 1: called your upper leg bones, you know, thigh bones. Are 284 00:14:43,605 --> 00:14:46,125 Speaker 1: they the same size they were when you had the 285 00:14:46,205 --> 00:14:47,245 Speaker 1: accident at age too? 286 00:14:47,445 --> 00:14:50,445 Speaker 2: No, No, they've grown, but it's at a much slower 287 00:14:50,445 --> 00:14:51,245 Speaker 2: pace to what. 288 00:14:52,765 --> 00:14:53,205 Speaker 1: Stretched. 289 00:14:53,325 --> 00:14:56,285 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, it just sweat stretches a lot slower, and 290 00:14:56,365 --> 00:14:59,085 Speaker 2: with the skin releases I have to have and assessed 291 00:14:59,085 --> 00:15:01,325 Speaker 2: with it. Oh yeah, I remember. It used to be 292 00:15:01,365 --> 00:15:05,125 Speaker 2: excruciating pain and I'd growing pains like everyone does, but 293 00:15:05,245 --> 00:15:06,845 Speaker 2: Mum would have to sit with me for hours and 294 00:15:06,885 --> 00:15:09,885 Speaker 2: be massaging my legs and I'd have to have heat packs, 295 00:15:09,925 --> 00:15:13,285 Speaker 2: ice packs, everything on them, taking so many painkillers. It 296 00:15:13,325 --> 00:15:17,325 Speaker 2: was terrible pain. But that stocks you stop growing. Yes, 297 00:15:17,445 --> 00:15:20,565 Speaker 2: so I might get the random one once a year 298 00:15:20,685 --> 00:15:23,805 Speaker 2: or something like that, but it's not as major at all. 299 00:15:24,205 --> 00:15:26,405 Speaker 2: They used to be every two weeks or something. I 300 00:15:26,525 --> 00:15:35,965 Speaker 2: start drinking, I know, my prosthetics heightened, so. 301 00:15:35,885 --> 00:15:39,645 Speaker 1: Yes, exactly. So you had to get the bone trimmed. 302 00:15:40,805 --> 00:15:43,565 Speaker 1: Was that a very elaborate process? And did you have 303 00:15:43,725 --> 00:15:45,405 Speaker 1: rituals about when you went to hospital? 304 00:15:45,485 --> 00:15:47,565 Speaker 2: The biggest ritual was always to go out for dinner 305 00:15:47,645 --> 00:15:51,245 Speaker 2: before surgery, just because I had to fast and I 306 00:15:51,285 --> 00:15:53,805 Speaker 2: don't eat breakfast anyway, Like I'm not a breakfast person, 307 00:15:54,085 --> 00:15:56,445 Speaker 2: but when you don't have the choice about eating breakfast, 308 00:15:57,125 --> 00:16:01,285 Speaker 2: bread exactly. So we would always go out for dinner beforehand, 309 00:16:01,325 --> 00:16:03,205 Speaker 2: and I'd make sure to get really full so i'd 310 00:16:03,245 --> 00:16:06,605 Speaker 2: be fine for the next twelve hours, and then I'd 311 00:16:06,765 --> 00:16:11,365 Speaker 2: go to surgery. In the morning, and only other traditions 312 00:16:11,365 --> 00:16:13,925 Speaker 2: are really we have a little surgery bag that we 313 00:16:13,925 --> 00:16:15,405 Speaker 2: pop at the end of my bed and we still 314 00:16:15,405 --> 00:16:18,285 Speaker 2: do with a photo of me and cross and a 315 00:16:18,325 --> 00:16:21,565 Speaker 2: few other little bits and bobs from my time. And 316 00:16:22,005 --> 00:16:24,365 Speaker 2: when I was younger, there'd be traditions with my mum 317 00:16:24,445 --> 00:16:27,285 Speaker 2: or dad whoever came in with me, Like Dad would 318 00:16:27,325 --> 00:16:29,845 Speaker 2: say you're a big strong girl and make me say it, 319 00:16:30,165 --> 00:16:32,125 Speaker 2: and Mum would be go to your happy place. So 320 00:16:32,165 --> 00:16:35,285 Speaker 2: there'd be little traditions amongst us. But now that I'm older, 321 00:16:35,485 --> 00:16:37,845 Speaker 2: I go in alone, so it's more lonely. 322 00:16:39,525 --> 00:16:40,245 Speaker 1: But what about you. 323 00:16:40,805 --> 00:16:44,125 Speaker 3: That's your first time this year because of COVID restricting 324 00:16:44,205 --> 00:16:45,005 Speaker 3: as yes. 325 00:16:45,485 --> 00:16:46,325 Speaker 1: What surgeries do? 326 00:16:46,325 --> 00:16:49,245 Speaker 2: You still have to have some skin releases, so they 327 00:16:49,325 --> 00:16:52,085 Speaker 2: take skin from a place that isn't burnt, So for me, 328 00:16:52,125 --> 00:16:55,605 Speaker 2: that's my right thigh and then they remove scars and 329 00:16:55,805 --> 00:16:58,885 Speaker 2: pace the skin on top of where they remove the scar. Yeah, 330 00:16:58,925 --> 00:17:00,485 Speaker 2: so that's my thing I'll have to have for the 331 00:17:00,525 --> 00:17:03,245 Speaker 2: rest of my life because it's not that my bones 332 00:17:03,245 --> 00:17:06,165 Speaker 2: are still growing, it's that movement is always different, Like 333 00:17:06,205 --> 00:17:08,645 Speaker 2: I might not be in my prosthetics as much, so 334 00:17:08,685 --> 00:17:11,805 Speaker 2: that might and some of my thigh scars and I 335 00:17:11,925 --> 00:17:14,445 Speaker 2: might not move my right arm up as much, so 336 00:17:14,565 --> 00:17:17,645 Speaker 2: that's going to tighten natska. So it's all about, you know, 337 00:17:17,725 --> 00:17:22,165 Speaker 2: moderating with my physiotherapist each week, and when I go 338 00:17:22,205 --> 00:17:24,925 Speaker 2: to the gym and exercise, moderating all the scars that 339 00:17:25,285 --> 00:17:26,085 Speaker 2: could get worse. 340 00:17:26,325 --> 00:17:27,445 Speaker 1: What do you do at the gym? 341 00:17:28,045 --> 00:17:29,645 Speaker 2: Go on my phone, listen to. 342 00:17:31,565 --> 00:17:37,645 Speaker 1: What everyone does. You pretend to exercise while looking Yeah. 343 00:17:36,285 --> 00:17:39,885 Speaker 2: Exactly, Just it depends on the day. Usually I stick 344 00:17:39,925 --> 00:17:42,525 Speaker 2: more with weights and try and build up my muscle 345 00:17:42,605 --> 00:17:45,085 Speaker 2: because I've spent quite a few months off gym because 346 00:17:45,125 --> 00:17:48,045 Speaker 2: of surgery, so it's usually trying to recover from that 347 00:17:48,085 --> 00:17:50,445 Speaker 2: and build up my muscle because my muscles get weak 348 00:17:50,605 --> 00:17:53,485 Speaker 2: very quickly. So yeah, just trying to build up that 349 00:17:53,805 --> 00:17:57,885 Speaker 2: muscle mass again and things like bike and I try 350 00:17:57,925 --> 00:18:00,085 Speaker 2: not to do treadmills and stuff where I'm standing because 351 00:18:00,085 --> 00:18:03,405 Speaker 2: it puts pressure on my wounds. But yeah, just whatever's 352 00:18:03,525 --> 00:18:06,365 Speaker 2: really available and it's free, so I just take it. 353 00:18:06,965 --> 00:18:09,765 Speaker 1: Carolyn, when you were having those how much and acquire 354 00:18:09,805 --> 00:18:13,365 Speaker 1: of our conversations, what do you take into account when 355 00:18:13,405 --> 00:18:14,485 Speaker 1: you answer that question? 356 00:18:14,645 --> 00:18:18,485 Speaker 3: Quality of life? And that was really tricky because no 357 00:18:18,565 --> 00:18:22,685 Speaker 3: one has survived her injuries before, and so no one 358 00:18:22,725 --> 00:18:26,325 Speaker 3: could guide us about what quality of life would mean. 359 00:18:27,605 --> 00:18:30,885 Speaker 3: So you go through this process of well, doctor Peter 360 00:18:31,005 --> 00:18:34,685 Speaker 3: again was sort of guide that time, where he introduced 361 00:18:34,765 --> 00:18:37,445 Speaker 3: us to young children who had lost limbs, trem and 362 00:18:37,525 --> 00:18:41,885 Speaker 3: chicocle actually and became amputees as a result, and the 363 00:18:41,925 --> 00:18:46,365 Speaker 3: families of them, and that was sort of a baseline, 364 00:18:46,405 --> 00:18:50,245 Speaker 3: I guess, talking to other parents and families of children 365 00:18:50,245 --> 00:18:55,125 Speaker 3: have been burned, which is difficult because of the significant 366 00:18:55,125 --> 00:18:57,565 Speaker 3: amount of injury that Surfa sustained. 367 00:18:57,165 --> 00:18:59,845 Speaker 1: And also the double whammy of being an amputee and 368 00:18:59,965 --> 00:19:02,685 Speaker 1: having burns, which seems very unfair. 369 00:19:03,405 --> 00:19:06,205 Speaker 3: So, you know, trying to get some guidance around that 370 00:19:06,925 --> 00:19:10,845 Speaker 3: information pooling I suppose conscious at the time, No, she 371 00:19:11,005 --> 00:19:16,005 Speaker 3: was intubated and in a coma, and yeah, because the 372 00:19:16,045 --> 00:19:19,685 Speaker 3: injuries were so extensive, it was really just she was 373 00:19:19,725 --> 00:19:23,405 Speaker 3: on life support and really she could have gone any minute. 374 00:19:23,445 --> 00:19:26,245 Speaker 3: We were just grateful for another thirty seconds with her 375 00:19:26,325 --> 00:19:29,725 Speaker 3: in the early time at that time. So it just 376 00:19:29,805 --> 00:19:31,565 Speaker 3: sort of grappling with all of that and going, well, 377 00:19:31,565 --> 00:19:34,325 Speaker 3: what is quality of love? What does that mean? What 378 00:19:34,525 --> 00:19:39,205 Speaker 3: could she achieve when no one really knew. So we thought, well, 379 00:19:39,245 --> 00:19:42,805 Speaker 3: I'm just giving a shot, and we told so that 380 00:19:42,885 --> 00:19:46,725 Speaker 3: if if it got too hard, Mary McKillop was going 381 00:19:46,725 --> 00:19:48,005 Speaker 3: to look after you up in heaven. 382 00:19:51,845 --> 00:19:55,685 Speaker 1: Yes, Mary mckilla comes into play at this point. I 383 00:19:55,725 --> 00:19:59,245 Speaker 1: remember praying for you, and I'm not even really just 384 00:19:59,325 --> 00:20:02,445 Speaker 1: I remember everyone praying for you both times. You know, 385 00:20:02,485 --> 00:20:05,965 Speaker 1: you really seem to harness that universally. Are you and 386 00:20:06,165 --> 00:20:10,085 Speaker 1: run of faith? Obviously you're a faith we are. How 387 00:20:10,165 --> 00:20:12,045 Speaker 1: were you particularly religious before? 388 00:20:12,645 --> 00:20:18,165 Speaker 3: I wouldn't say overly religious. I have a belief, a spiritual. 389 00:20:17,645 --> 00:20:19,765 Speaker 1: Belief that there's something out there. 390 00:20:19,845 --> 00:20:23,125 Speaker 3: Absolutely, and I harnessed that and I just happened to 391 00:20:24,125 --> 00:20:27,885 Speaker 3: feel for me it was a Catholic faith that resonated 392 00:20:28,325 --> 00:20:32,325 Speaker 3: most sin sintly for me. And I happened to be 393 00:20:32,645 --> 00:20:34,925 Speaker 3: working in nor Sydney at the time, all Blues Point Road, 394 00:20:34,965 --> 00:20:37,925 Speaker 3: and I just wanted a quiet place and I found 395 00:20:38,485 --> 00:20:41,645 Speaker 3: the Mary Mickillip Chapel one year when I'd had a 396 00:20:41,645 --> 00:20:45,005 Speaker 3: couple of miscarriages and was wanting to have children and 397 00:20:45,325 --> 00:20:47,685 Speaker 3: was trying to grapple with that this may never happen 398 00:20:47,805 --> 00:20:51,685 Speaker 3: for us kind of conversation, and I found the Mary 399 00:20:51,725 --> 00:20:55,125 Speaker 3: McKillop Chapel, and I walked in there, I thought, this 400 00:20:55,205 --> 00:20:58,685 Speaker 3: is my place, and then I would just get a 401 00:20:58,685 --> 00:21:01,205 Speaker 3: little tap on the shoulder and someone would just check 402 00:21:01,285 --> 00:21:03,845 Speaker 3: on me. You can go up and do this, what 403 00:21:03,965 --> 00:21:07,005 Speaker 3: you could do. It was just such a gentle environment, 404 00:21:07,325 --> 00:21:11,845 Speaker 3: and I just felt so good there. Anyway, I prayed 405 00:21:11,845 --> 00:21:15,005 Speaker 3: on Mary mcallops tomb and various things like that, and 406 00:21:15,125 --> 00:21:16,965 Speaker 3: ended up having Mitchell and then so. 407 00:21:17,765 --> 00:21:20,485 Speaker 1: And so when she was in hospital after the first accident, 408 00:21:21,045 --> 00:21:22,165 Speaker 1: it just came back to you. 409 00:21:22,605 --> 00:21:25,005 Speaker 3: Yeah, absolutely, so if she was going to go to heaven, 410 00:21:25,005 --> 00:21:27,965 Speaker 3: she was going to go to heaven with holding Mary mcgillips. 411 00:21:27,645 --> 00:21:28,285 Speaker 1: And yeah. 412 00:21:29,045 --> 00:21:32,325 Speaker 3: And I had a belief also in the power of prayer, 413 00:21:32,365 --> 00:21:36,525 Speaker 3: the power of community, and the power of that higher order, 414 00:21:36,565 --> 00:21:40,285 Speaker 3: that high being, and just the immensity of the universe 415 00:21:40,405 --> 00:21:45,725 Speaker 3: that could help us with this situation that seemed extraordinary, 416 00:21:46,845 --> 00:21:51,765 Speaker 3: catastrophic by some people's words, but certainly greater than I 417 00:21:51,805 --> 00:21:53,365 Speaker 3: could manage on my own. 418 00:21:54,245 --> 00:21:57,205 Speaker 1: And it did feel like there was a universal like 419 00:21:57,445 --> 00:22:01,085 Speaker 1: a lot of people who might not ordinarily otherwise pray. 420 00:22:01,605 --> 00:22:05,325 Speaker 1: We're all focused on one thing and you shouldn't have 421 00:22:05,365 --> 00:22:09,245 Speaker 1: survived really in terms of your injuries and odds odds 422 00:22:09,445 --> 00:22:12,965 Speaker 1: against you, and something bigger than you happened. I want 423 00:22:13,005 --> 00:22:16,605 Speaker 1: to ask about Mitch too, because when I've looked at 424 00:22:16,685 --> 00:22:19,725 Speaker 1: some of the old interviews and the footage, there's Mitch 425 00:22:19,845 --> 00:22:22,325 Speaker 1: in the background of photos. There's Mitch sitting next to 426 00:22:22,405 --> 00:22:25,845 Speaker 1: you on the couch. And you were from when you 427 00:22:25,885 --> 00:22:28,485 Speaker 1: were sort of five or six. You seem to quite 428 00:22:28,565 --> 00:22:31,245 Speaker 1: love like, you were good at the spotlight and the cameras, 429 00:22:31,285 --> 00:22:34,005 Speaker 1: and you are naturally very outgoing as a vescent girl, 430 00:22:34,005 --> 00:22:37,165 Speaker 1: and you still are now a woman. And he's always 431 00:22:37,165 --> 00:22:40,845 Speaker 1: sort of hanging back. And I often thought about how 432 00:22:41,205 --> 00:22:44,125 Speaker 1: you and Ron felt about Mitch during that time, because 433 00:22:44,125 --> 00:22:47,085 Speaker 1: he was only four. How did you bring him up 434 00:22:47,125 --> 00:22:51,365 Speaker 1: alongside Sophie when there was so much understandable focus on her. 435 00:22:52,165 --> 00:22:56,245 Speaker 3: It's a really tricky The siblings of children with ongoing 436 00:22:56,325 --> 00:23:01,445 Speaker 3: medical editions or disability have a rough time and they're 437 00:23:01,485 --> 00:23:06,405 Speaker 3: an underrecognized group. I joined him up to Siblings Australia 438 00:23:06,445 --> 00:23:11,525 Speaker 3: straight away, and it's a charity of foundation that was 439 00:23:11,565 --> 00:23:14,005 Speaker 3: set up by a women in South Australia. It's the 440 00:23:14,045 --> 00:23:17,085 Speaker 3: only one I could find, but I wanted to show 441 00:23:17,165 --> 00:23:20,605 Speaker 3: him that there was support there for him. I always 442 00:23:20,725 --> 00:23:24,565 Speaker 3: made sure that he had access to all supports that 443 00:23:24,645 --> 00:23:28,485 Speaker 3: he would need from a counseling point of view, and 444 00:23:28,525 --> 00:23:32,365 Speaker 3: that he felt as involved. The staff of the children's 445 00:23:32,365 --> 00:23:35,485 Speaker 3: hospital really looked out for him. As I mentioned, the 446 00:23:35,565 --> 00:23:38,445 Speaker 3: ladies and the canteen still ask after him when we 447 00:23:38,485 --> 00:23:41,925 Speaker 3: go in, so he was as loved a member of 448 00:23:42,005 --> 00:23:45,405 Speaker 3: the community. What we did when we were living in 449 00:23:45,445 --> 00:23:49,525 Speaker 3: the hospital for him because of the intensity of the 450 00:23:49,565 --> 00:23:53,645 Speaker 3: week and I guess the rawness of n and our emotion, 451 00:23:53,885 --> 00:23:57,685 Speaker 3: my emotions. In order to give him some normality and 452 00:23:57,845 --> 00:24:02,365 Speaker 3: routine in his life. My parents moved over from New Zealand. 453 00:24:02,805 --> 00:24:05,685 Speaker 3: We had previously lived in Australia, so it was an 454 00:24:05,765 --> 00:24:08,845 Speaker 3: easy transition for them. But they came and lived in 455 00:24:08,885 --> 00:24:12,525 Speaker 3: our home for a year and my mother became his 456 00:24:12,605 --> 00:24:15,205 Speaker 3: principal care Yeah, so she would get him to take 457 00:24:15,245 --> 00:24:20,085 Speaker 3: care and you know, teach him to walk numbers down 458 00:24:20,085 --> 00:24:22,525 Speaker 3: the road and look at the side posters. 459 00:24:22,285 --> 00:24:26,565 Speaker 1: So you could really relax that side and go that sorted. 460 00:24:26,805 --> 00:24:28,685 Speaker 1: I can really just focus my energy. 461 00:24:28,685 --> 00:24:30,365 Speaker 3: And he would come in for the latter half of 462 00:24:30,405 --> 00:24:33,765 Speaker 3: the week and the weekend and it was awful. We 463 00:24:33,845 --> 00:24:36,285 Speaker 3: would have friends pick him up on a Sunday, take 464 00:24:36,365 --> 00:24:39,125 Speaker 3: him out and do something special and take him home. 465 00:24:39,165 --> 00:24:42,045 Speaker 3: And he was always very distressed by. 466 00:24:41,885 --> 00:24:44,805 Speaker 1: That, having to leave or having to be there. 467 00:24:45,005 --> 00:24:48,765 Speaker 3: Having to leave, Yes, and it's tough, but we knew 468 00:24:48,925 --> 00:24:52,165 Speaker 3: ultimately it would be better for him to be at 469 00:24:52,205 --> 00:24:55,605 Speaker 3: home in his own bed for some of that time. 470 00:24:55,725 --> 00:24:57,925 Speaker 2: And he was always very protective of mom and Dad 471 00:24:57,965 --> 00:25:00,765 Speaker 2: and myself, Like when I first lost my legs, he 472 00:25:01,245 --> 00:25:03,405 Speaker 2: told mom and Dad that Sophie's legs will grow back 473 00:25:03,485 --> 00:25:06,165 Speaker 2: like a lizard's tale, like trying to make a situation 474 00:25:06,365 --> 00:25:07,445 Speaker 2: very like a lot better. 475 00:25:07,765 --> 00:25:11,325 Speaker 3: He's always been incredibly protective of so innately he just 476 00:25:11,405 --> 00:25:14,965 Speaker 3: can read it, you know, have this enduring image and 477 00:25:14,965 --> 00:25:18,365 Speaker 3: I've spoken of it before of walking into the Australia 478 00:25:18,405 --> 00:25:21,285 Speaker 3: Museum and he's sussed out of the room, looked at 479 00:25:21,285 --> 00:25:23,485 Speaker 3: where the parents and the children are, and he's seen 480 00:25:23,565 --> 00:25:26,085 Speaker 3: someone and he's seen the children look and so he's 481 00:25:26,125 --> 00:25:30,085 Speaker 3: grab his prap and turned her around and taken her 482 00:25:30,085 --> 00:25:35,885 Speaker 3: to an exhibit over there. So that he's always averted. 483 00:25:36,605 --> 00:25:40,245 Speaker 3: And he was four, no, sorry, he would have been five, 484 00:25:40,405 --> 00:25:43,205 Speaker 3: It would have been quite early. One of the things 485 00:25:43,205 --> 00:25:46,325 Speaker 3: that we'd tried to do for sofa is not cotton 486 00:25:46,405 --> 00:25:50,445 Speaker 3: wool wrapper and cotton wool. It's like if she was 487 00:25:50,485 --> 00:25:52,285 Speaker 3: well enough to go out, she was well enough to 488 00:25:52,325 --> 00:25:54,965 Speaker 3: go to the museum or to the aquarium, or for 489 00:25:55,005 --> 00:25:57,245 Speaker 3: a walk on the beach, whatever, And as soon as 490 00:25:57,285 --> 00:26:00,765 Speaker 3: she could have all her bandages off and her pressure 491 00:26:00,805 --> 00:26:04,365 Speaker 3: garments off, she was not one to cover up. If 492 00:26:04,365 --> 00:26:06,805 Speaker 3: it was hot, she would strip off and her legs 493 00:26:06,805 --> 00:26:10,125 Speaker 3: would be out and loud and proud she will. That 494 00:26:10,245 --> 00:26:13,205 Speaker 3: was her, that's innately her. And you need to be 495 00:26:13,245 --> 00:26:16,485 Speaker 3: pushing this little little t shirt and little shorts, you know, 496 00:26:16,605 --> 00:26:19,605 Speaker 3: quite when she was young. That's very different for children 497 00:26:19,645 --> 00:26:22,685 Speaker 3: in particular to see someone without legs, like where did 498 00:26:22,805 --> 00:26:25,685 Speaker 3: legs go? Well, let me tell you a story. 499 00:26:26,365 --> 00:26:29,085 Speaker 1: But you all guys were also famous, like super famous. 500 00:26:29,125 --> 00:26:33,165 Speaker 1: Everybody in Australia recognized your faces. So that's a whole 501 00:26:33,205 --> 00:26:38,605 Speaker 1: other level of staring and attention that how do you 502 00:26:39,005 --> 00:26:41,885 Speaker 1: live with that? Because it's a funny kind of celebrity 503 00:26:41,885 --> 00:26:43,525 Speaker 1: where everyone feels that they know you. Right. 504 00:26:43,845 --> 00:26:47,085 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think that's best dancewered by Sophie, But for 505 00:26:47,205 --> 00:26:50,125 Speaker 3: me it was well, I can either have people stare 506 00:26:50,205 --> 00:26:55,285 Speaker 3: at her or they can say hello and send her love, 507 00:26:56,165 --> 00:26:58,645 Speaker 3: and as a parent, I thought, well, I know which 508 00:26:58,645 --> 00:27:01,685 Speaker 3: one i'd prefer, so I think we'll just go down 509 00:27:01,685 --> 00:27:04,885 Speaker 3: this path. And yeah, so I've got a lot of 510 00:27:04,965 --> 00:27:09,485 Speaker 3: love from people. The other side to that was that 511 00:27:09,565 --> 00:27:12,565 Speaker 3: I know that Sophie. In fact, I was talking to 512 00:27:12,565 --> 00:27:14,565 Speaker 3: a friend of mine about it. Yesterday. We were at 513 00:27:14,565 --> 00:27:17,205 Speaker 3: the Australia Zoo and this woman came up to you 514 00:27:17,245 --> 00:27:19,485 Speaker 3: and she said, oh, I'm so pleased you love this 515 00:27:19,605 --> 00:27:22,805 Speaker 3: place too. This is my sanctuary. I'm going through cancer treatment. 516 00:27:23,525 --> 00:27:26,205 Speaker 3: And she said, and it's made doubly special for me 517 00:27:26,285 --> 00:27:29,045 Speaker 3: today because I've seen you here. And then there was 518 00:27:29,085 --> 00:27:33,565 Speaker 3: another incident where you someone had written and said I 519 00:27:33,725 --> 00:27:37,605 Speaker 3: had been thinking of suiciding and I've read your story. 520 00:27:37,925 --> 00:27:41,885 Speaker 3: I now realize what I have to live for. It's 521 00:27:41,965 --> 00:27:47,045 Speaker 3: incredibly powerful stuff. So if by Sophie having a public 522 00:27:47,085 --> 00:27:50,485 Speaker 3: image because so many people loved and cared about her, 523 00:27:51,245 --> 00:27:55,365 Speaker 3: and the story continued, because there was just this continuance, 524 00:27:55,405 --> 00:27:59,565 Speaker 3: a natural continuance. Everyone thought it would end, but it continued. 525 00:28:00,205 --> 00:28:03,485 Speaker 3: It was important for me to know that if the 526 00:28:03,565 --> 00:28:06,525 Speaker 3: story was a public one, as it was anyway, and 527 00:28:06,565 --> 00:28:09,765 Speaker 3: it helped people to change their life for better or 528 00:28:09,805 --> 00:28:13,885 Speaker 3: live a better life. Then that was some important legacy. 529 00:28:14,485 --> 00:28:18,605 Speaker 1: It's a lot, though, like you're still like at nineteen 530 00:28:19,045 --> 00:28:22,165 Speaker 1: you kind of I don't know, you want to maybe 531 00:28:22,285 --> 00:28:26,205 Speaker 1: drink and dates and people and make some mistakes and 532 00:28:26,365 --> 00:28:29,925 Speaker 1: maybe not drink. But like that's a lot to take 533 00:28:29,965 --> 00:28:35,645 Speaker 1: on everybody's feelings about you and everybody's you've saved my 534 00:28:35,725 --> 00:28:39,325 Speaker 1: life or changed my life or I'm so grateful, Like 535 00:28:40,005 --> 00:28:41,485 Speaker 1: is that why you wanted to go to the UK? 536 00:28:42,725 --> 00:28:45,965 Speaker 2: Everyone thinks that, but honestly, for me, it was just 537 00:28:46,005 --> 00:28:49,205 Speaker 2: to see if I could manage my care by myself. 538 00:28:49,765 --> 00:28:52,285 Speaker 2: And I felt like if I stayed in Australia. 539 00:28:51,885 --> 00:28:53,325 Speaker 1: Couldn't you have just moved out of home? No? 540 00:28:54,565 --> 00:28:56,925 Speaker 2: I mean yes, but everything was set up for me, 541 00:28:57,205 --> 00:29:00,165 Speaker 2: Like my physio was a pharmacy that set up for me. 542 00:29:00,205 --> 00:29:02,565 Speaker 2: I've my doctors, everything are set up, and I wanted 543 00:29:02,605 --> 00:29:05,565 Speaker 2: to see if I could just go to another country, 544 00:29:05,725 --> 00:29:08,245 Speaker 2: start where, yeah, where I knew no one, and just 545 00:29:08,485 --> 00:29:10,725 Speaker 2: try and see if I myself could do it. And 546 00:29:10,765 --> 00:29:13,205 Speaker 2: that's why, like my mom and dad and everyone wanted 547 00:29:13,565 --> 00:29:15,485 Speaker 2: a care to go on the plane with me, and 548 00:29:15,525 --> 00:29:17,405 Speaker 2: I was like, no, they can come a week after. 549 00:29:18,045 --> 00:29:20,645 Speaker 2: Like I understand I said yes, for my mom's sake 550 00:29:20,685 --> 00:29:21,965 Speaker 2: and my dad's sake and everyone's sake. 551 00:29:22,285 --> 00:29:24,605 Speaker 1: But I was like, throw mom and dad a speaking 552 00:29:24,645 --> 00:29:26,765 Speaker 1: on behalf of mom's and dad and I throw us 553 00:29:26,765 --> 00:29:31,765 Speaker 1: a bone, and at least come and carry the bags. See. 554 00:29:32,165 --> 00:29:34,205 Speaker 2: I think they wanted it to be them, but I 555 00:29:34,245 --> 00:29:36,805 Speaker 2: was like, no, my friend can come instead. 556 00:29:39,165 --> 00:29:40,285 Speaker 1: Proxy she was. 557 00:29:40,525 --> 00:29:43,325 Speaker 2: She's a nurse, so I mean, it's okay, there we go. 558 00:29:43,485 --> 00:29:46,125 Speaker 2: She was my care so yeah, so she came like 559 00:29:46,125 --> 00:29:48,085 Speaker 2: a week later. So I just wanted to see if 560 00:29:48,125 --> 00:29:50,845 Speaker 2: that first week I could just take that big step myself. 561 00:29:50,965 --> 00:29:52,365 Speaker 1: How was that first week? Oh? 562 00:29:52,765 --> 00:29:53,805 Speaker 2: Hell, it was horrible. 563 00:29:53,925 --> 00:29:54,445 Speaker 3: Was it hard? 564 00:29:55,245 --> 00:29:56,005 Speaker 1: I imagine it was. 565 00:29:56,125 --> 00:30:00,005 Speaker 2: I binged like most of the seasons of Friends. I 566 00:30:00,005 --> 00:30:04,005 Speaker 2: thought you were gonna say I nailed it was. I 567 00:30:04,085 --> 00:30:07,205 Speaker 2: was just very shocked by it all. Like I love 568 00:30:07,325 --> 00:30:11,045 Speaker 2: traveling and I love London, but just I had no 569 00:30:11,285 --> 00:30:14,085 Speaker 2: idea and what to expect. I thought I'd get there 570 00:30:14,085 --> 00:30:16,325 Speaker 2: straight away and it would be my dream. But it 571 00:30:16,365 --> 00:30:20,005 Speaker 2: got there and I was like I'm alone and just 572 00:30:20,045 --> 00:30:20,805 Speaker 2: trying to figure out. 573 00:30:20,805 --> 00:30:24,285 Speaker 1: I thought that path through it exactly, you can't do exactly. 574 00:30:24,365 --> 00:30:27,525 Speaker 2: I had no idea what i'd feel and like saying 575 00:30:27,525 --> 00:30:29,805 Speaker 2: goodbye was one of the hardest things and still is. 576 00:30:29,965 --> 00:30:33,485 Speaker 2: I hate saying goodbye. So like, once I got there 577 00:30:33,485 --> 00:30:36,925 Speaker 2: and just realizing I have no appointments, I have no 578 00:30:36,965 --> 00:30:38,925 Speaker 2: one to see, I have nothing to do, like it's 579 00:30:38,965 --> 00:30:42,205 Speaker 2: all up to me, there was an overwhelming sense of 580 00:30:42,245 --> 00:30:46,405 Speaker 2: freedom that terrified me. Not that I never had freedom, 581 00:30:46,445 --> 00:30:48,925 Speaker 2: I have so much freedom here, but to know that 582 00:30:49,285 --> 00:30:52,405 Speaker 2: I get to choose everything for myself, Like every choice 583 00:30:52,445 --> 00:30:55,845 Speaker 2: I make is mine, no one else's, And that just 584 00:30:56,005 --> 00:30:56,925 Speaker 2: was so overwhelming. 585 00:30:57,405 --> 00:30:58,245 Speaker 1: How long ago is this? 586 00:30:58,925 --> 00:31:00,245 Speaker 2: That was my last year. 587 00:31:00,925 --> 00:31:03,205 Speaker 1: And then what happened? Did COVID happen? Well? 588 00:31:03,325 --> 00:31:07,365 Speaker 2: Yeah, then I went to university in September. I moved 589 00:31:07,405 --> 00:31:10,405 Speaker 2: into a student hall some of the best people of 590 00:31:10,445 --> 00:31:14,605 Speaker 2: my life, and I finished my UNI degree well almost, 591 00:31:14,925 --> 00:31:17,845 Speaker 2: I had two weeks left of union or something. I 592 00:31:17,885 --> 00:31:22,485 Speaker 2: was doing social anthropology and development and then yeah, just stop. 593 00:31:22,645 --> 00:31:23,725 Speaker 2: But the weirdest thing was. 594 00:31:23,765 --> 00:31:26,205 Speaker 1: You finished your degree or COVID heat and you decided 595 00:31:26,205 --> 00:31:26,965 Speaker 1: you had to come home. 596 00:31:27,165 --> 00:31:27,405 Speaker 3: Yeah. 597 00:31:27,485 --> 00:31:30,485 Speaker 2: So the weirdest thing was we had four weeks worth 598 00:31:30,485 --> 00:31:33,645 Speaker 2: of strikes at my UNI for something or ever. 599 00:31:33,965 --> 00:31:35,005 Speaker 1: It was like this year. 600 00:31:35,205 --> 00:31:38,005 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, that was in February and that was like 601 00:31:38,285 --> 00:31:40,485 Speaker 2: seventy universities in London were doing so it was a 602 00:31:40,485 --> 00:31:44,005 Speaker 2: massive thing. So I had UNI off like odd days. 603 00:31:44,005 --> 00:31:46,725 Speaker 2: So it was two weeks worth of strikes, but over 604 00:31:46,805 --> 00:31:50,205 Speaker 2: four weeks that all happened. And then we had a 605 00:31:50,205 --> 00:31:52,645 Speaker 2: week back at UNI and two of my classes were 606 00:31:52,685 --> 00:31:55,565 Speaker 2: canceled anyway because the lectures weren't there. And then UNI 607 00:31:55,645 --> 00:32:00,765 Speaker 2: was shut down. So I have hardly attended university. 608 00:32:01,125 --> 00:32:03,245 Speaker 1: I had a whole year, you had a whole another 609 00:32:03,365 --> 00:32:03,965 Speaker 1: year to go. 610 00:32:04,365 --> 00:32:06,165 Speaker 2: Yeah, that was on my first year of my degree. 611 00:32:06,285 --> 00:32:10,725 Speaker 2: So then I was coming back anyway for medical legal reasons. 612 00:32:10,765 --> 00:32:14,165 Speaker 2: And then I decided, well, I couldn't go back really, 613 00:32:14,205 --> 00:32:17,285 Speaker 2: And then I decided that for now, at least, I'm 614 00:32:17,325 --> 00:32:20,325 Speaker 2: just gonna defer UNI for a year, stay here and 615 00:32:20,485 --> 00:32:23,685 Speaker 2: just appreciate what I have here instead of going back 616 00:32:23,725 --> 00:32:27,285 Speaker 2: to so much uncertainty where if something happened here and 617 00:32:27,325 --> 00:32:30,125 Speaker 2: I couldn't get back in time, or it just was 618 00:32:30,325 --> 00:32:32,325 Speaker 2: too much. So I decided to be here with my 619 00:32:32,365 --> 00:32:33,445 Speaker 2: loved ones and. 620 00:32:33,405 --> 00:32:36,445 Speaker 1: A compromised do you have to be extra careful. 621 00:32:36,445 --> 00:32:43,405 Speaker 2: I probably should be, well, like I don't let anything stop, 622 00:32:44,085 --> 00:32:47,605 Speaker 2: like if I want to go out to like shops. 623 00:32:47,605 --> 00:32:51,885 Speaker 2: I want to do that, like global pandemics locked down. No, 624 00:32:52,365 --> 00:32:55,285 Speaker 2: when I first got here, I legally had to because 625 00:32:55,325 --> 00:32:58,085 Speaker 2: I was quarantine. Thankfully, I just missed the hotel. I 626 00:32:58,165 --> 00:33:01,245 Speaker 2: was the week before the hotel quarantine got in. Yeah, 627 00:33:01,285 --> 00:33:04,005 Speaker 2: so I stayed inside for those two weeks in my room. 628 00:33:04,645 --> 00:33:07,085 Speaker 2: And then I want to see my friends. I hadn't 629 00:33:07,125 --> 00:33:09,925 Speaker 2: seen them in almost a year or something, so I 630 00:33:10,165 --> 00:33:12,805 Speaker 2: just slowly went out, Like coffees and shops and all 631 00:33:12,845 --> 00:33:15,845 Speaker 2: that were still closed. So now I'm just go out 632 00:33:16,005 --> 00:33:19,045 Speaker 2: to like an empty cinema or like things. Well, like 633 00:33:19,045 --> 00:33:21,325 Speaker 2: I'm not in huge crowds anyway. 634 00:33:21,205 --> 00:33:22,245 Speaker 1: Like everyone. I guess. 635 00:33:22,325 --> 00:33:24,485 Speaker 2: Yeah, exactly when you were in the. 636 00:33:24,525 --> 00:33:27,925 Speaker 1: UK, what was the biggest difference that you noticed. 637 00:33:28,645 --> 00:33:31,285 Speaker 2: See. The weirdest thing is I still got recognized over there, 638 00:33:31,365 --> 00:33:34,925 Speaker 2: did you? I got recognized. The weirdest one was in 639 00:33:35,245 --> 00:33:39,685 Speaker 2: a gym changing room by an American woman and I 640 00:33:39,725 --> 00:33:42,925 Speaker 2: was so confused. And her Auntie or Nan was Australian 641 00:33:43,565 --> 00:33:47,405 Speaker 2: and raised her like when she was young, told her 642 00:33:47,445 --> 00:33:50,005 Speaker 2: about me or something, but this woman was mid late 643 00:33:50,045 --> 00:33:53,485 Speaker 2: twenties or something. I was very surprised, and it was 644 00:33:53,525 --> 00:33:55,365 Speaker 2: the weirdest thing that was only a few months into 645 00:33:55,365 --> 00:33:59,165 Speaker 2: me being there, and I've had people from Australia who've 646 00:33:59,205 --> 00:34:01,125 Speaker 2: moved to the UK or were visiting the UK be like, oh, 647 00:34:01,165 --> 00:34:03,845 Speaker 2: that's sleepe easier then come up to me, which was 648 00:34:03,925 --> 00:34:04,805 Speaker 2: very lovely of them. 649 00:34:05,045 --> 00:34:05,645 Speaker 1: Is it lovely? 650 00:34:05,965 --> 00:34:06,205 Speaker 2: Yeah? 651 00:34:06,285 --> 00:34:08,045 Speaker 1: Or can it be a bit intrusive when you're just 652 00:34:08,045 --> 00:34:09,405 Speaker 1: trying to get on with your life? 653 00:34:09,765 --> 00:34:13,165 Speaker 2: I don't know any different. Yeah, I guess so. Which 654 00:34:13,205 --> 00:34:14,405 Speaker 2: is the weirdest thing because. 655 00:34:14,165 --> 00:34:17,525 Speaker 1: I watch everyone project, you know, preparing to meet you. Today, 656 00:34:17,525 --> 00:34:20,045 Speaker 1: I watched a bunch of interviews and I watch all 657 00:34:20,085 --> 00:34:23,085 Speaker 1: of these older people, you know, around my age and 658 00:34:23,125 --> 00:34:26,925 Speaker 1: older projecting onto you. Oh I remember when this happened, 659 00:34:27,005 --> 00:34:29,205 Speaker 1: and it's like everyone has to work through their own 660 00:34:29,205 --> 00:34:31,485 Speaker 1: emotions about it. And like I was watching sixty Minutes 661 00:34:31,525 --> 00:34:33,005 Speaker 1: this morning and I had my little cry, but that's 662 00:34:33,045 --> 00:34:34,565 Speaker 1: nothing to do with you and nothing to do with 663 00:34:34,605 --> 00:34:38,325 Speaker 1: your life now, and you were just a bit like yeah. 664 00:34:39,565 --> 00:34:42,485 Speaker 2: Yeah, pretty much because I had enough. 665 00:34:44,125 --> 00:34:44,845 Speaker 3: To happen to you. 666 00:34:46,005 --> 00:34:48,485 Speaker 2: Well, like exactly what my mum said before. It's the 667 00:34:48,725 --> 00:34:52,325 Speaker 2: fact that my story has helped people and has I 668 00:34:52,365 --> 00:34:53,845 Speaker 2: know this is weird, but I don't like the word 669 00:34:53,925 --> 00:34:55,725 Speaker 2: inspired because I guess. 670 00:34:56,725 --> 00:34:58,765 Speaker 1: Yeah, some people with disabilities hate that way. 671 00:34:58,845 --> 00:35:01,765 Speaker 2: Yeah, and like I'm okay for it low to like it. Yeah, 672 00:35:01,885 --> 00:35:03,445 Speaker 2: Like I'm okay if people use it on me, but 673 00:35:03,525 --> 00:35:06,125 Speaker 2: I don't like using the word. But if I've helped 674 00:35:06,125 --> 00:35:08,685 Speaker 2: people change their lives in some way, that's all I 675 00:35:08,725 --> 00:35:09,165 Speaker 2: care about. 676 00:35:09,365 --> 00:35:10,845 Speaker 1: I don't be very invested in you. 677 00:35:11,125 --> 00:35:13,165 Speaker 2: Yeah, exactly. And if they can find any bit of 678 00:35:13,205 --> 00:35:15,925 Speaker 2: hope or courage from it, yeah, I'm happy to give it. 679 00:35:16,045 --> 00:35:19,045 Speaker 2: I am not going to shy away from my story 680 00:35:19,125 --> 00:35:22,885 Speaker 2: or the spotlight because I want to like hide from it, 681 00:35:22,925 --> 00:35:25,245 Speaker 2: because it's my life. I can't do anything about it. 682 00:35:25,725 --> 00:35:27,725 Speaker 2: I'm just going to create as much change as i 683 00:35:27,765 --> 00:35:29,005 Speaker 2: can while i'm here. 684 00:35:29,125 --> 00:35:32,165 Speaker 1: When you were a teenager, did you rebel against your 685 00:35:32,205 --> 00:35:34,925 Speaker 1: parents because you seem to love them and they love you? 686 00:35:34,965 --> 00:35:37,365 Speaker 2: Obviously, I was a hard teenager to do it what 687 00:35:37,485 --> 00:35:41,885 Speaker 2: we like as a teenager, bossy, controlling a chatter box, 688 00:35:42,845 --> 00:35:44,405 Speaker 2: my way or the high. 689 00:35:44,805 --> 00:35:47,005 Speaker 1: Them away though? Will you like a bit? 690 00:35:47,445 --> 00:35:49,405 Speaker 2: Well, I did suffer from a lot of mental health 691 00:35:49,525 --> 00:35:52,005 Speaker 2: illnesses when I was in my early teenage years, so 692 00:35:52,045 --> 00:35:54,925 Speaker 2: I naturally did because of that, which is both to 693 00:35:54,965 --> 00:35:57,565 Speaker 2: do with my disability and just life. 694 00:35:57,285 --> 00:35:59,765 Speaker 1: And you know, and being a teenage girl exactly. 695 00:35:59,845 --> 00:36:02,485 Speaker 2: Everyone suffers from something or another at some point in 696 00:36:02,525 --> 00:36:05,405 Speaker 2: their life. I think that period I definitely did. But 697 00:36:06,125 --> 00:36:09,485 Speaker 2: like every teenager goes to a phase of no, like 698 00:36:09,525 --> 00:36:12,565 Speaker 2: say no to their parents and wanting just their own space, 699 00:36:13,205 --> 00:36:15,645 Speaker 2: So I think mine was just pretty natural for at 700 00:36:15,725 --> 00:36:18,725 Speaker 2: least from my perspective. It was like I hear sories 701 00:36:18,845 --> 00:36:22,205 Speaker 2: mum's friends who has a kid who's fourteen, She's complaining 702 00:36:22,205 --> 00:36:23,925 Speaker 2: about her daughter doing this, and I was like, I 703 00:36:24,005 --> 00:36:27,445 Speaker 2: did that, Like, yeah, Mitchell did that. We all did that, Like, yeah, 704 00:36:27,445 --> 00:36:28,405 Speaker 2: it's true, it didn't. 705 00:36:28,885 --> 00:36:31,725 Speaker 1: I suppose it's just the difference in how protective you 706 00:36:31,805 --> 00:36:34,805 Speaker 1: are and how because injuries and disability can be in 707 00:36:34,845 --> 00:36:37,765 Speaker 1: fantializing in a way, can't it, in the sense that 708 00:36:38,485 --> 00:36:41,725 Speaker 1: you need care and you need your reliance, Yeah, your 709 00:36:41,765 --> 00:36:42,845 Speaker 1: reliance on other sides. 710 00:36:42,965 --> 00:36:45,565 Speaker 3: And I think it's we were so proud of Sophia 711 00:36:45,565 --> 00:36:47,685 Speaker 3: when she went to the UK, because it's like, I 712 00:36:47,885 --> 00:36:50,325 Speaker 3: done my job, She's got there on our road. 713 00:36:50,605 --> 00:36:52,405 Speaker 1: Do you cry so much? 714 00:36:52,965 --> 00:36:56,085 Speaker 3: It's funny, you know, at different times, I would certainly 715 00:36:56,165 --> 00:36:58,805 Speaker 3: not at the airport, not to show SOFI know, dad 716 00:37:02,325 --> 00:37:06,725 Speaker 3: anywhere currently got the Sopha's getting the PIC talk right 717 00:37:06,725 --> 00:37:07,645 Speaker 3: after the get. 718 00:37:08,005 --> 00:37:11,725 Speaker 2: I'm crying like the entire twenty six hour flight. 719 00:37:11,565 --> 00:37:20,925 Speaker 1: There, because that's natural pushing away, which a mother has 720 00:37:20,965 --> 00:37:23,245 Speaker 1: to really respect in the sense that it's a very 721 00:37:23,285 --> 00:37:27,045 Speaker 1: normal part. But you also still have this caretaking role. 722 00:37:27,125 --> 00:37:30,245 Speaker 3: And yeah, you know it's the juggle of Sophie as 723 00:37:30,285 --> 00:37:33,725 Speaker 3: her care has changed as she's aged in terms of 724 00:37:33,765 --> 00:37:37,445 Speaker 3: giving her some more opportunity to negotiate her own pathway forward. 725 00:37:38,085 --> 00:37:40,925 Speaker 3: And you know, we know that she needs to keep mobile, 726 00:37:41,285 --> 00:37:43,205 Speaker 3: and you know, when swimming wasn't working out, we had 727 00:37:43,205 --> 00:37:45,005 Speaker 3: to look at other options. That's where rowan. 728 00:37:44,885 --> 00:37:47,285 Speaker 1: Cans otherwise gets tired. 729 00:37:47,445 --> 00:37:50,445 Speaker 3: It gets tired definitely, And so so it's really good 730 00:37:50,445 --> 00:37:55,125 Speaker 3: about managing her physical strength now through various means. I 731 00:37:55,125 --> 00:37:57,285 Speaker 3: think she's overall done a really good job. There were 732 00:37:57,365 --> 00:38:00,565 Speaker 3: times we really feel sorry for Jenny her physio on 733 00:38:00,645 --> 00:38:01,725 Speaker 3: Saturday mornings. 734 00:38:01,765 --> 00:38:08,605 Speaker 2: I was physio because it was stretching that I liked. Right, 735 00:38:09,525 --> 00:38:11,045 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, I think. 736 00:38:12,605 --> 00:38:12,885 Speaker 1: Morning. 737 00:38:13,245 --> 00:38:16,085 Speaker 2: I was not a morning person as a teenager. It 738 00:38:16,125 --> 00:38:18,565 Speaker 2: was more the fact that I didn't see the need 739 00:38:18,645 --> 00:38:20,565 Speaker 2: for it. It might have had, it might not have, 740 00:38:20,645 --> 00:38:22,925 Speaker 2: but I was like, why, Yeah, and I think as 741 00:38:22,965 --> 00:38:26,565 Speaker 2: you get older, every teenager comes to an appreciation of 742 00:38:26,605 --> 00:38:28,085 Speaker 2: their parents and the role they play. 743 00:38:28,645 --> 00:38:34,005 Speaker 1: Like at that age, does that happen. Yeah, my daughter's fourteen, my. 744 00:38:33,965 --> 00:38:36,565 Speaker 2: Brother's twenty one, and I still don't think he realized it. 745 00:38:38,005 --> 00:38:40,725 Speaker 2: I definitely it took me time. You know, during those 746 00:38:41,045 --> 00:38:45,525 Speaker 2: middle teenagers fourteen to sixteen, I didn't realize that, like 747 00:38:45,725 --> 00:38:48,165 Speaker 2: how much everyone has done for me, whether it's my physio, 748 00:38:48,765 --> 00:38:52,205 Speaker 2: my mum or whoever. Especially once I moved to England, 749 00:38:52,485 --> 00:38:56,085 Speaker 2: like that appreciation just doubled in size because I realized 750 00:38:56,565 --> 00:38:59,165 Speaker 2: how much everyone, like my parents have built stuff for me. 751 00:38:59,325 --> 00:39:03,005 Speaker 2: Whether you're disabled or not, you value how much of 752 00:39:03,045 --> 00:39:06,085 Speaker 2: your life is to do with your parents, and they 753 00:39:06,125 --> 00:39:08,645 Speaker 2: shape you, whether it's good or bad. They're gonna shape 754 00:39:08,645 --> 00:39:12,245 Speaker 2: you no matter what. And so that appreciation definitely came 755 00:39:12,325 --> 00:39:15,205 Speaker 2: to me, even more so when you moved to the. 756 00:39:15,205 --> 00:39:29,405 Speaker 1: Uka, Carol in the first time. The first accident, you 757 00:39:29,445 --> 00:39:32,445 Speaker 1: could speak quite fatalistic, I imagine, and say this was terrible 758 00:39:32,525 --> 00:39:36,005 Speaker 1: luck it was a driver had a seizure. The second 759 00:39:36,085 --> 00:39:39,565 Speaker 1: time two years later, How the hell do you reconcile that. 760 00:39:39,925 --> 00:39:43,285 Speaker 3: I don't think you can, other than you think there's 761 00:39:43,285 --> 00:39:45,525 Speaker 3: a divine purpose. What is it? 762 00:39:45,765 --> 00:39:50,165 Speaker 1: Ye? Come on, Mary, but are you really trying to 763 00:39:50,205 --> 00:39:51,205 Speaker 1: test my faith here? 764 00:39:51,445 --> 00:39:53,485 Speaker 3: And then it's like that's never going to be answered 765 00:39:53,565 --> 00:39:57,565 Speaker 3: park it and for us was more of a continuance 766 00:39:57,645 --> 00:40:01,645 Speaker 3: because our biggest gap from a hospital visit was only 767 00:40:01,645 --> 00:40:04,725 Speaker 3: a couple of weeks at that point anyway, So it's 768 00:40:04,765 --> 00:40:08,525 Speaker 3: just like we just clicked into an automation on an 769 00:40:08,565 --> 00:40:11,125 Speaker 3: eye of we've done this before, we know what to do, 770 00:40:11,565 --> 00:40:15,085 Speaker 3: pulling these teams do it this way, the same thing. 771 00:40:15,205 --> 00:40:18,245 Speaker 3: Friends came around, they were sorting the mail, they were 772 00:40:18,485 --> 00:40:20,725 Speaker 3: doing this, you know, and everyone just clicked into. 773 00:40:20,645 --> 00:40:22,885 Speaker 1: The same jobs before. 774 00:40:23,205 --> 00:40:27,045 Speaker 3: It was kind of weird. It was surreal. Certainly, one 775 00:40:27,085 --> 00:40:27,325 Speaker 3: of the. 776 00:40:27,285 --> 00:40:30,485 Speaker 2: Most beautiful things about the second accident was that we 777 00:40:30,565 --> 00:40:33,885 Speaker 2: had even more people around, like people who were my 778 00:40:34,485 --> 00:40:39,085 Speaker 2: rehabilitation swim teachers, who worked on my second preschool. They 779 00:40:39,125 --> 00:40:41,165 Speaker 2: lived around the corner for where Mitchell went to school 780 00:40:41,365 --> 00:40:43,525 Speaker 2: when he went to primary school, so they'd pick him 781 00:40:43,605 --> 00:40:46,205 Speaker 2: up after school. So people that we never knew before 782 00:40:46,245 --> 00:40:49,125 Speaker 2: the accident in the first accident were then around for 783 00:40:49,165 --> 00:40:51,565 Speaker 2: the second accident to help with that. We had all 784 00:40:51,605 --> 00:40:54,725 Speaker 2: the people before, plus all these other wonderful people in 785 00:40:54,765 --> 00:40:58,685 Speaker 2: our lives who had the knowledge of disabilities and all 786 00:40:58,685 --> 00:41:00,165 Speaker 2: of that turst of stuff with that as. 787 00:41:00,085 --> 00:41:03,205 Speaker 1: Well, with the injuries very different and the type of 788 00:41:03,245 --> 00:41:04,965 Speaker 1: thing that you were dealing with very different. 789 00:41:05,405 --> 00:41:08,325 Speaker 3: Yeah, it was actually because she was not hit by 790 00:41:08,365 --> 00:41:11,365 Speaker 3: the car in the first accident, so there was no 791 00:41:11,485 --> 00:41:14,525 Speaker 3: blunt force trauma. And with a second it's a very 792 00:41:14,565 --> 00:41:18,445 Speaker 3: different things where there's broken bones and a head injury. 793 00:41:18,565 --> 00:41:21,565 Speaker 2: And most of my first accident injuries were external. We're 794 00:41:21,565 --> 00:41:25,765 Speaker 2: a second accident it was all internal, so it's complete opposite. 795 00:41:25,925 --> 00:41:28,925 Speaker 1: Why did you tell Sophie about it, Well. 796 00:41:28,685 --> 00:41:31,525 Speaker 3: That you got hitched on a crossing with Tar, but 797 00:41:31,645 --> 00:41:33,165 Speaker 3: Tar was okay. 798 00:41:33,845 --> 00:41:36,085 Speaker 2: My assistants dock at the assistant dog. 799 00:41:36,165 --> 00:41:38,885 Speaker 1: I've was seen your beautiful assistance dog. 800 00:41:39,165 --> 00:41:40,805 Speaker 3: She was a door a special dog. 801 00:41:40,965 --> 00:41:43,725 Speaker 1: Did you have more assistance dogs after her because she 802 00:41:43,765 --> 00:41:47,205 Speaker 1: died early? Didn't she? Yeah? Fair, I mean, honestly, it. 803 00:41:47,085 --> 00:41:49,325 Speaker 2: Was tragic and she was like the top of the 804 00:41:49,365 --> 00:41:51,925 Speaker 2: class assistant dog. You could not get a better one. 805 00:41:52,285 --> 00:41:54,005 Speaker 2: And then we decided to take up break for a 806 00:41:54,045 --> 00:41:56,885 Speaker 2: little while because we were so upset about that and 807 00:41:56,965 --> 00:41:58,605 Speaker 2: we didn't want to feel like you could just replace 808 00:41:58,765 --> 00:42:02,125 Speaker 2: an animal like that. We now have our second assistant's 809 00:42:02,205 --> 00:42:05,565 Speaker 2: dog who's not at all the top of the classes. 810 00:42:07,125 --> 00:42:11,725 Speaker 2: And I put it nicely, she barely graduated us is 811 00:42:11,885 --> 00:42:16,405 Speaker 2: her more hundred percent? Like the best thing about Willow 812 00:42:16,605 --> 00:42:19,565 Speaker 2: that's her name, is she thinks she's trying to help. 813 00:42:20,245 --> 00:42:23,885 Speaker 2: So like she sees her shoe put in the corner 814 00:42:24,005 --> 00:42:26,365 Speaker 2: room and she'll carry around the house for the entire 815 00:42:26,445 --> 00:42:28,805 Speaker 2: day and then you go to take it off her 816 00:42:28,845 --> 00:42:30,925 Speaker 2: and she'll be like nope and turn ahead and walk 817 00:42:30,965 --> 00:42:32,965 Speaker 2: away from you the last minute. 818 00:42:33,165 --> 00:42:34,925 Speaker 1: You're her assistants human really. 819 00:42:35,845 --> 00:42:40,765 Speaker 2: Like she accidentally eats my dressings, my bandages and things 820 00:42:40,765 --> 00:42:41,605 Speaker 2: like that, like. 821 00:42:44,365 --> 00:42:48,605 Speaker 1: From tidy up the bin. I'm disposed of the evidence. 822 00:42:50,005 --> 00:42:50,965 Speaker 1: I'm just gonna eat it. 823 00:42:51,125 --> 00:42:55,645 Speaker 2: Yeah, but she is the best house pet. She is 824 00:42:55,685 --> 00:42:58,525 Speaker 2: the worst assistant girl said say that. There's no doubt 825 00:42:58,565 --> 00:43:04,485 Speaker 2: about that. But she needs Yeah literally, she's the emotional support. Yeah, 826 00:43:05,885 --> 00:43:08,165 Speaker 2: she'll be at my door crying, and you know, I'll 827 00:43:08,205 --> 00:43:10,405 Speaker 2: just open the door and sit on my bed and 828 00:43:10,485 --> 00:43:13,005 Speaker 2: just lie there for like two minutes and then walk away. Again. 829 00:43:14,325 --> 00:43:15,165 Speaker 3: It's so much better. 830 00:43:17,165 --> 00:43:19,885 Speaker 1: I would like a snack, literally. 831 00:43:19,925 --> 00:43:23,165 Speaker 2: Wonderes she not well food? But yeah, so she's I 832 00:43:23,245 --> 00:43:26,965 Speaker 2: call her an emotional support dog, yeah, rather than a 833 00:43:27,045 --> 00:43:30,445 Speaker 2: self retired assistant's dog. And from the day we got 834 00:43:31,805 --> 00:43:33,245 Speaker 2: she never really passed. 835 00:43:34,205 --> 00:43:36,045 Speaker 3: I let her graduate, though we get. 836 00:43:37,685 --> 00:43:40,205 Speaker 2: She got a little like graduation certificate and everything. 837 00:43:40,325 --> 00:43:43,885 Speaker 1: That's cute. How do you have any faith in cars 838 00:43:43,965 --> 00:43:46,805 Speaker 1: and in the world and in walking down the street? 839 00:43:47,405 --> 00:43:51,285 Speaker 1: You know, like having that shaken for you? I imagine 840 00:43:51,365 --> 00:43:54,525 Speaker 1: that's for you because you don't have actual memories of it. 841 00:43:54,805 --> 00:43:56,565 Speaker 3: Look, you can't live your life in fear. 842 00:43:56,565 --> 00:43:59,485 Speaker 1: I mean you can, well many people do. 843 00:44:01,565 --> 00:44:05,445 Speaker 3: No, No, that's right, But I'm suggesting cost bad stuff 844 00:44:05,485 --> 00:44:09,085 Speaker 3: happens to good people. You can either just pick up 845 00:44:09,485 --> 00:44:14,165 Speaker 3: and keep on, or you can let something bad consume 846 00:44:14,245 --> 00:44:18,765 Speaker 3: you and living a life of fear or regret. It's 847 00:44:18,805 --> 00:44:21,725 Speaker 3: not a happy life. It's not a life that necessarily 848 00:44:21,765 --> 00:44:23,765 Speaker 3: is going to fulfill you as a human. And I 849 00:44:23,805 --> 00:44:27,445 Speaker 3: think you pick yourself up and you keep going, and 850 00:44:27,605 --> 00:44:31,125 Speaker 3: you know that's incredibly tough some days. And so will 851 00:44:31,165 --> 00:44:33,205 Speaker 3: be the first to admit that not every day is 852 00:44:33,205 --> 00:44:34,125 Speaker 3: a fabulous day. 853 00:44:35,125 --> 00:44:36,285 Speaker 1: What does a bad day look like? 854 00:44:36,325 --> 00:44:39,165 Speaker 2: So? I think for me at this point in my life, 855 00:44:39,285 --> 00:44:41,605 Speaker 2: it's when because I always have pressure wings on my 856 00:44:41,725 --> 00:44:45,845 Speaker 2: legs because of my prosthetics. So it's when they're beyond 857 00:44:46,245 --> 00:44:49,205 Speaker 2: painful that I can't put on my prosthetic. And for me, 858 00:44:49,325 --> 00:44:52,445 Speaker 2: my prosthetics are my main type of freedom. I'm happy 859 00:44:52,445 --> 00:44:55,165 Speaker 2: to use my wheelchair outside the house, but I need 860 00:44:55,165 --> 00:44:57,645 Speaker 2: my prosthetics to drive my car. I need my prosthetics 861 00:44:57,645 --> 00:45:00,045 Speaker 2: to you know, if I'm out of place with stairs, 862 00:45:00,085 --> 00:45:02,965 Speaker 2: to walk up the stairs. So I think the hardest 863 00:45:03,005 --> 00:45:05,845 Speaker 2: days are the ones where I just have to do nothing. 864 00:45:06,045 --> 00:45:08,285 Speaker 2: And I'm the type of person I like having plans. 865 00:45:08,405 --> 00:45:10,885 Speaker 2: I like being busy and always having things to do, 866 00:45:10,925 --> 00:45:13,285 Speaker 2: because when I don't, then I'm not brought out of 867 00:45:13,285 --> 00:45:16,285 Speaker 2: my mind. But then those days come about and I 868 00:45:16,325 --> 00:45:18,685 Speaker 2: hate nonetheless. No matter how much things I have to 869 00:45:18,685 --> 00:45:19,845 Speaker 2: do on my computer or whatever. 870 00:45:20,045 --> 00:45:21,485 Speaker 1: Do they happen off of those days? 871 00:45:22,165 --> 00:45:24,245 Speaker 2: Yeah, I go through periods at least once a month 872 00:45:24,445 --> 00:45:28,485 Speaker 2: with them. I'm prone to infections, then a million other things, 873 00:45:28,525 --> 00:45:31,685 Speaker 2: and like sometimes my wounds just get deeper than they 874 00:45:31,685 --> 00:45:36,565 Speaker 2: should or I get more irritations. Then I would. 875 00:45:36,325 --> 00:45:38,645 Speaker 1: Normal use your prosthetics more than you're meant to. 876 00:45:39,965 --> 00:45:42,525 Speaker 2: When I was in high school, my guy who makes 877 00:45:42,525 --> 00:45:45,165 Speaker 2: my legs, my processis made sure that. I Well, he 878 00:45:45,285 --> 00:45:47,325 Speaker 2: told me I should only wear my legs three hours 879 00:45:47,365 --> 00:45:49,805 Speaker 2: a day. I did not go up to plan. 880 00:45:51,285 --> 00:45:52,725 Speaker 1: How often do you how much to do it? 881 00:45:52,845 --> 00:45:55,285 Speaker 2: You were twelve to fourteen hours a day. 882 00:45:55,405 --> 00:45:57,765 Speaker 1: Yeah, right, and then you suffer the consequences, which is. 883 00:45:57,885 --> 00:46:00,485 Speaker 2: Yeah, But for me, I don't care. Like I've had 884 00:46:00,605 --> 00:46:03,725 Speaker 2: points in my life where my doctor's like, Sophie, you 885 00:46:03,725 --> 00:46:06,125 Speaker 2: need to stop wearing your legs otherwise next week you'll 886 00:46:06,165 --> 00:46:08,725 Speaker 2: be in here for emergency surgery to get like the 887 00:46:08,765 --> 00:46:11,685 Speaker 2: wounds cover it up. I did not stop wearing my legs, 888 00:46:11,765 --> 00:46:14,645 Speaker 2: and it naturally healed itself. I'm very proud of that moment. 889 00:46:15,565 --> 00:46:20,565 Speaker 1: Yeah, Caroline told me about body image in your teenage years. 890 00:46:20,725 --> 00:46:22,085 Speaker 1: I mean, it's tricky for any girl. 891 00:46:22,325 --> 00:46:25,405 Speaker 2: I definitely struggled with weight management and all that, and 892 00:46:25,445 --> 00:46:27,925 Speaker 2: that I like perception of like seeing these girls and 893 00:46:28,285 --> 00:46:30,725 Speaker 2: you know, just freely walking onto the beach and going 894 00:46:30,725 --> 00:46:33,245 Speaker 2: for a swim, where I had to take my prosthetics 895 00:46:33,285 --> 00:46:35,045 Speaker 2: off and take my dressings off and then put them 896 00:46:35,085 --> 00:46:37,445 Speaker 2: back on and do all of that. And I think 897 00:46:37,485 --> 00:46:39,725 Speaker 2: for me it was especially hard because when I had 898 00:46:39,725 --> 00:46:42,245 Speaker 2: my second accident, I had to eat a lot of 899 00:46:42,485 --> 00:46:44,565 Speaker 2: high fat foods to gain weight because I was so 900 00:46:44,685 --> 00:46:48,205 Speaker 2: malnourished and my body needed more food and energy and 901 00:46:48,245 --> 00:46:51,525 Speaker 2: all that. But I think everyone's going to suffer with 902 00:46:51,565 --> 00:46:53,685 Speaker 2: it at some point. Like that's the horrible part of 903 00:46:53,725 --> 00:46:56,245 Speaker 2: society is that there is such a stigma about the 904 00:46:56,245 --> 00:46:59,845 Speaker 2: perfect body image. But it's just trying to find a 905 00:46:59,965 --> 00:47:03,485 Speaker 2: piece with yourself. Whether that's not a certain size or weight, 906 00:47:03,565 --> 00:47:06,085 Speaker 2: but knowing you're doing what's best for your health, whether 907 00:47:06,125 --> 00:47:08,445 Speaker 2: it's exercising once a week or at least eating a 908 00:47:08,645 --> 00:47:10,525 Speaker 2: somewhat of a balance, it's died. I don't think it 909 00:47:10,565 --> 00:47:14,445 Speaker 2: matters how you look, but how you manage your life 910 00:47:14,725 --> 00:47:17,965 Speaker 2: around healthiness and all of that. But as a teenager, 911 00:47:18,325 --> 00:47:21,685 Speaker 2: I definitely like covered up a lot more. I'm very modest. 912 00:47:21,725 --> 00:47:23,925 Speaker 2: I'm not gonna wear like a crop top where you 913 00:47:23,925 --> 00:47:26,325 Speaker 2: can see my like half my stomach and all of that, 914 00:47:26,405 --> 00:47:28,845 Speaker 2: and like short shorts when my butts hanging out and whatnot. 915 00:47:29,365 --> 00:47:31,885 Speaker 2: I just was naturally because when I went to high school, 916 00:47:31,885 --> 00:47:34,125 Speaker 2: I didn't wear my prosthetics for my first few years, 917 00:47:34,725 --> 00:47:38,125 Speaker 2: So I just naturally covered up anyway, because I when 918 00:47:38,165 --> 00:47:39,845 Speaker 2: I was going through that dark phase in my life, 919 00:47:39,885 --> 00:47:43,325 Speaker 2: didn't want people to see certain things about me, and 920 00:47:43,645 --> 00:47:45,845 Speaker 2: I think just as I've grown older, as I've gone 921 00:47:45,925 --> 00:47:49,445 Speaker 2: into sports and gained muscle and all of that and 922 00:47:49,605 --> 00:47:53,285 Speaker 2: built that confidence in the athletic area, i think it's 923 00:47:53,325 --> 00:47:55,965 Speaker 2: just gone away from me and I've just now like 924 00:47:56,005 --> 00:47:58,285 Speaker 2: I still everyone still stuffers with it, no matter how 925 00:47:58,325 --> 00:48:00,605 Speaker 2: old you are. I still suffer it that individually myself, 926 00:48:01,165 --> 00:48:03,565 Speaker 2: But it's just coming to acceptance that I am doing 927 00:48:03,565 --> 00:48:06,485 Speaker 2: what's best for my body. I can't overwork myself. I 928 00:48:06,525 --> 00:48:09,605 Speaker 2: can only do so much, whether that's you know, someone 929 00:48:09,645 --> 00:48:11,965 Speaker 2: would work or like you know, you can't go to 930 00:48:12,045 --> 00:48:14,765 Speaker 2: the gym ten times a day because you've got you know, 931 00:48:14,925 --> 00:48:17,645 Speaker 2: full job and a full time job and whatnot. So 932 00:48:17,725 --> 00:48:19,725 Speaker 2: I'm just, you know, doing what I can to help 933 00:48:19,765 --> 00:48:22,005 Speaker 2: with my health and fitness. And I think that's all 934 00:48:22,045 --> 00:48:23,325 Speaker 2: you can really do in your life. 935 00:48:23,725 --> 00:48:27,645 Speaker 1: Sport seems to have really flipped the switch from what 936 00:48:27,725 --> 00:48:30,725 Speaker 1: your body is limited in doing as to what your 937 00:48:30,725 --> 00:48:34,525 Speaker 1: body can do because you're an incredibly successful roa. 938 00:48:35,165 --> 00:48:35,605 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think. 939 00:48:35,965 --> 00:48:37,765 Speaker 1: What was it like being out on the water. 940 00:48:38,165 --> 00:48:41,405 Speaker 2: Yeah, well it all started for me with swimming. I 941 00:48:41,485 --> 00:48:43,925 Speaker 2: my rehab when I first came out of hospital was 942 00:48:43,925 --> 00:48:48,285 Speaker 2: swimming like to build all my muscle was straight. They 943 00:48:48,325 --> 00:48:49,845 Speaker 2: put me in the pool straight away, like I was 944 00:48:49,885 --> 00:48:52,565 Speaker 2: always a water baby. I loved swimming all of that 945 00:48:52,645 --> 00:48:55,725 Speaker 2: before my accident, and so they just put me back in. 946 00:48:55,805 --> 00:48:59,765 Speaker 2: So sport has always been my rehab no matter what. 947 00:49:00,245 --> 00:49:02,805 Speaker 2: So when I was competitively swimming so much and then 948 00:49:02,845 --> 00:49:06,645 Speaker 2: I got a rotator cuff injury reoccurring, then they were like, Okay, 949 00:49:06,725 --> 00:49:08,965 Speaker 2: you've been swimming too much, let's try a different sport. 950 00:49:09,365 --> 00:49:13,685 Speaker 1: Then I went into pattern here, yeah, pushing to the limit. 951 00:49:13,845 --> 00:49:16,525 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, you moved high schools a few times, Yes. 952 00:49:16,405 --> 00:49:19,925 Speaker 2: I did. My first time was more for personal reasons 953 00:49:20,005 --> 00:49:22,405 Speaker 2: and the fact that I never felt like I fully belonged. 954 00:49:22,445 --> 00:49:24,725 Speaker 2: It was a wonderful school, and every school I've been 955 00:49:24,765 --> 00:49:27,925 Speaker 2: to has taught me something completely different and has given 956 00:49:27,965 --> 00:49:30,445 Speaker 2: me support in such a different way. There was a 957 00:49:30,445 --> 00:49:32,445 Speaker 2: lot of changes going on at the school at the time, 958 00:49:32,485 --> 00:49:35,445 Speaker 2: and I just felt like I needed to change myself 959 00:49:35,645 --> 00:49:38,565 Speaker 2: and move somewhere else. And I had a best friend 960 00:49:38,605 --> 00:49:41,685 Speaker 2: from primary school who went to another school and was 961 00:49:41,725 --> 00:49:44,485 Speaker 2: still close friends, and I thought I wanted to give 962 00:49:44,485 --> 00:49:48,725 Speaker 2: out co ed learning go So I moved there and 963 00:49:48,965 --> 00:49:52,245 Speaker 2: it was wonderful, but it didn't feel right, like perfect 964 00:49:52,325 --> 00:49:55,405 Speaker 2: for me. So then a very good family friend of mine, 965 00:49:55,445 --> 00:49:59,205 Speaker 2: the one who came to England with me the week later. Yeah, 966 00:49:59,445 --> 00:50:02,685 Speaker 2: she went to my final high school, like graduated five 967 00:50:02,805 --> 00:50:05,485 Speaker 2: years after that before I did. And she said from 968 00:50:05,725 --> 00:50:07,685 Speaker 2: day one it was a senior school, so you could 969 00:50:07,725 --> 00:50:09,965 Speaker 2: only go for year eleven and twelve. She went, said 970 00:50:09,965 --> 00:50:12,165 Speaker 2: since day one of me leaving my first school, you 971 00:50:12,205 --> 00:50:14,805 Speaker 2: would love the school. And I went and it was 972 00:50:14,885 --> 00:50:18,885 Speaker 2: the complete opposite. Each three schools were completely polar opposites. 973 00:50:19,365 --> 00:50:22,005 Speaker 2: I went from an old girls school and then to 974 00:50:22,045 --> 00:50:24,685 Speaker 2: a co ed, then to a school where you called 975 00:50:24,685 --> 00:50:26,165 Speaker 2: their teachers by their first name. 976 00:50:26,405 --> 00:50:28,365 Speaker 1: And that was the one that suited you the best. 977 00:50:28,525 --> 00:50:31,125 Speaker 2: It was so you got so much freedom and you 978 00:50:31,205 --> 00:50:33,845 Speaker 2: were allowed to grow individually. 979 00:50:33,925 --> 00:50:34,365 Speaker 1: I felt. 980 00:50:34,405 --> 00:50:37,445 Speaker 2: I feel a lot of schools try and compress the 981 00:50:37,605 --> 00:50:42,525 Speaker 2: child's individuality and creativity, except in the creative subjects. And 982 00:50:42,565 --> 00:50:44,765 Speaker 2: I felt this school because you could wear whatever you 983 00:50:44,805 --> 00:50:47,085 Speaker 2: wanted to school. We had a common room where it 984 00:50:47,125 --> 00:50:49,325 Speaker 2: wasn't just for one year, it was for both years. 985 00:50:50,005 --> 00:50:51,845 Speaker 2: And you could go out at lunch if you wanted 986 00:50:51,845 --> 00:50:52,885 Speaker 2: to go up to chats what it. 987 00:50:52,885 --> 00:50:55,445 Speaker 1: Want, So you were treated much more like an adult exactly. 988 00:50:56,205 --> 00:50:59,805 Speaker 2: Yeah, it was an adult learning environment. Yeah. And I 989 00:50:59,845 --> 00:51:02,125 Speaker 2: know people I went to school with it didn't suit them. 990 00:51:02,205 --> 00:51:04,765 Speaker 2: They moved schools or they ended up going to take 991 00:51:04,845 --> 00:51:08,125 Speaker 2: for apprenticeships and whatnot. But for some of my best 992 00:51:08,125 --> 00:51:10,165 Speaker 2: friends still to this day, it was the best thing 993 00:51:10,205 --> 00:51:12,605 Speaker 2: that could have done for them. It just so happened 994 00:51:12,605 --> 00:51:15,165 Speaker 2: that we met the people that changed our lives for 995 00:51:15,205 --> 00:51:17,525 Speaker 2: the better. Like my best friends I met on the 996 00:51:17,565 --> 00:51:20,365 Speaker 2: first day and were still best friends. It just worked 997 00:51:20,365 --> 00:51:22,365 Speaker 2: for me. It was what I needed in a school. 998 00:51:22,445 --> 00:51:25,725 Speaker 2: I needed that independence and that opportunity to let me grow. 999 00:51:26,205 --> 00:51:29,445 Speaker 2: And then I moved to England to get more independence independence. 1000 00:51:29,685 --> 00:51:31,365 Speaker 1: There was another little girl that was endured that day 1001 00:51:31,365 --> 00:51:34,165 Speaker 1: as well, Molly would Molly. She sort of disappeared from 1002 00:51:34,165 --> 00:51:37,325 Speaker 1: the public ice quite quickly. I suppose everybody wanted you 1003 00:51:37,325 --> 00:51:39,765 Speaker 1: guys to sort of stay friends and all of that 1004 00:51:39,845 --> 00:51:42,645 Speaker 1: was her experience very different to yours or you've lost contact. 1005 00:51:43,285 --> 00:51:47,045 Speaker 2: She her family wanted to shy away from the media 1006 00:51:47,245 --> 00:51:50,805 Speaker 2: a bit more. We're completely their decision, no judgment there 1007 00:51:50,805 --> 00:51:53,245 Speaker 2: for that, but I think they took a different approach 1008 00:51:53,365 --> 00:51:54,445 Speaker 2: to the trauma. 1009 00:51:54,685 --> 00:51:56,485 Speaker 1: I mean, most people aren't still friends with someone they 1010 00:51:56,485 --> 00:51:58,045 Speaker 1: were friends with it too exactly. 1011 00:51:58,125 --> 00:52:01,165 Speaker 3: They ended up moving to the UK, so that. 1012 00:52:01,965 --> 00:52:03,925 Speaker 2: When we were quite young, like they moved around ten 1013 00:52:04,005 --> 00:52:06,525 Speaker 2: years ago. Now I still remember saying goodbye to her. 1014 00:52:06,965 --> 00:52:11,565 Speaker 2: But yeah, to that point to yeah, Molly's mum, Caroline 1015 00:52:11,725 --> 00:52:13,685 Speaker 2: was British and then she wanted to go back for 1016 00:52:13,725 --> 00:52:15,525 Speaker 2: a family. So yeah, there was the type of thing 1017 00:52:15,565 --> 00:52:19,325 Speaker 2: that we just naturally split apart. But we're Facebook friends. 1018 00:52:19,325 --> 00:52:22,325 Speaker 2: We haven't been in contact as such, but. 1019 00:52:22,205 --> 00:52:23,565 Speaker 1: We Facebook friends will do it. 1020 00:52:23,685 --> 00:52:27,685 Speaker 2: Yeah, exactly, it doesn't for now like COVID's Yeah, like 1021 00:52:27,765 --> 00:52:29,965 Speaker 2: otherwise may have seen each other, but it's to explame 1022 00:52:30,005 --> 00:52:30,565 Speaker 2: it on COVID. 1023 00:52:31,125 --> 00:52:35,685 Speaker 1: Post Traumatic stress syndrome is something that I thought everybody 1024 00:52:35,725 --> 00:52:40,165 Speaker 1: got after they experienced a tragedy or a catastrophic traumatic 1025 00:52:40,165 --> 00:52:43,245 Speaker 1: event since talking to a lot of people, but also 1026 00:52:43,285 --> 00:52:46,325 Speaker 1: in Leis sales book One Ordinary Day, she talks about 1027 00:52:46,325 --> 00:52:49,365 Speaker 1: how what you don't hear about is post traumatic growth 1028 00:52:49,405 --> 00:52:53,205 Speaker 1: syndrome as well, that a lot of people have the 1029 00:52:53,285 --> 00:52:56,525 Speaker 1: light in their life turned up, not down, by a 1030 00:52:56,565 --> 00:53:00,205 Speaker 1: tragedy or a catastrophic trauma. I get the sense that's 1031 00:53:00,325 --> 00:53:04,645 Speaker 1: the case with you. I don't want to pollyannerate but 1032 00:53:05,205 --> 00:53:08,085 Speaker 1: you seem to I don't know, is that true. I 1033 00:53:08,085 --> 00:53:09,245 Speaker 1: don't want to put words in your mouth. 1034 00:53:09,445 --> 00:53:11,805 Speaker 3: Well, I think it is in the sense that I 1035 00:53:11,965 --> 00:53:16,485 Speaker 3: felt our lives became more enriched by the experience and 1036 00:53:17,165 --> 00:53:20,925 Speaker 3: because of the people, the inspiring people we met, stories 1037 00:53:20,965 --> 00:53:25,405 Speaker 3: of people who've risen to challenges beyond anything we've experienced. 1038 00:53:26,125 --> 00:53:29,725 Speaker 3: They're just great stories of inspiration. Well that word inspiration, 1039 00:53:29,885 --> 00:53:32,125 Speaker 3: but they do when you're in this situation, they do 1040 00:53:32,245 --> 00:53:35,805 Speaker 3: inspire you to keep going. The people who've reached out 1041 00:53:35,885 --> 00:53:39,285 Speaker 3: to us that had no connection to us, who felt 1042 00:53:39,365 --> 00:53:41,725 Speaker 3: that they could offer us something to help us through, 1043 00:53:42,485 --> 00:53:44,965 Speaker 3: and the support that we've had as a family from 1044 00:53:45,005 --> 00:53:47,445 Speaker 3: the community. You know, so I said it was bigger 1045 00:53:47,485 --> 00:53:50,765 Speaker 3: than we could manage. We reached out and we were 1046 00:53:51,045 --> 00:53:53,885 Speaker 3: supported by the community, which allowed us in turn to 1047 00:53:53,925 --> 00:53:55,085 Speaker 3: support a broader. 1048 00:53:54,805 --> 00:53:58,925 Speaker 1: Community through the charity millions of dollars. 1049 00:53:58,565 --> 00:54:01,525 Speaker 3: But also through the gifts that we were given from 1050 00:54:01,605 --> 00:54:04,085 Speaker 3: the community. If we couldn't use the gifts, we would 1051 00:54:04,085 --> 00:54:06,885 Speaker 3: find people who could use the gifts. If it was food, 1052 00:54:07,125 --> 00:54:10,205 Speaker 3: or if it was clothing or whatever was sent. If 1053 00:54:10,205 --> 00:54:13,765 Speaker 3: we didn't have a need ourselves, we knew where it 1054 00:54:13,805 --> 00:54:17,725 Speaker 3: could be best used. And so we were in a 1055 00:54:17,765 --> 00:54:20,565 Speaker 3: fortunate position, certainly living in a children's hossible for the 1056 00:54:20,605 --> 00:54:24,765 Speaker 3: length of time that we had to meet people who 1057 00:54:24,885 --> 00:54:30,525 Speaker 3: needed more and organizations and other charities that touch I 1058 00:54:30,525 --> 00:54:32,885 Speaker 3: think of the Steve Wall Foundation that touch on the 1059 00:54:33,005 --> 00:54:36,565 Speaker 3: rarest type of syndromes, you know, so we can sort 1060 00:54:36,565 --> 00:54:37,885 Speaker 3: of like a club. 1061 00:54:37,685 --> 00:54:39,965 Speaker 1: That no one wants to join, but once you're in it, 1062 00:54:40,685 --> 00:54:42,205 Speaker 1: you meet some pretty amazing people. 1063 00:54:42,365 --> 00:54:44,085 Speaker 3: Do meet amazing people. 1064 00:54:43,845 --> 00:54:46,285 Speaker 1: Sophie, Is it weird when you've got the media speculating 1065 00:54:46,325 --> 00:54:49,245 Speaker 1: on whether you've got a boyfriend or got a boyfriend? 1066 00:54:50,085 --> 00:54:52,365 Speaker 2: I found when I first moved to England. It was 1067 00:54:52,405 --> 00:54:54,045 Speaker 2: a bit shocking because I think. 1068 00:54:53,925 --> 00:54:56,165 Speaker 1: That's like we were in the gossip column Suddenly. 1069 00:54:56,445 --> 00:55:01,925 Speaker 2: I was very confused about that, especially because people I 1070 00:55:02,085 --> 00:55:06,325 Speaker 2: was speculated to be dating were gay. But there were 1071 00:55:06,325 --> 00:55:10,285 Speaker 2: photos of me with their boyfriend and my older friend, 1072 00:55:10,765 --> 00:55:13,365 Speaker 2: and like it was immediately like they have to be 1073 00:55:13,445 --> 00:55:17,485 Speaker 2: together because my entire life, some of my closest friends 1074 00:55:17,525 --> 00:55:19,365 Speaker 2: are guys I've always had. 1075 00:55:19,445 --> 00:55:22,485 Speaker 1: So they're scanning your Instagram and trying to make stories 1076 00:55:22,605 --> 00:55:25,525 Speaker 1: around the pictures exactly. I mean, that must be It's 1077 00:55:25,525 --> 00:55:27,885 Speaker 1: funny in a way. Carolyn when you think about all 1078 00:55:27,925 --> 00:55:29,805 Speaker 1: those dark knights of the soul that you must have 1079 00:55:29,885 --> 00:55:32,805 Speaker 1: had in hospitals, and just think, one day the gossip 1080 00:55:33,245 --> 00:55:36,845 Speaker 1: is going to be like Sophie Delizia's new boyfriend, Like 1081 00:55:37,405 --> 00:55:39,485 Speaker 1: you would have loved to have that as a problem 1082 00:55:39,605 --> 00:55:43,085 Speaker 1: right back then when you were thinking about Kohala's bearing 1083 00:55:44,085 --> 00:55:46,245 Speaker 1: exactly do you kind of just laugh? 1084 00:55:46,605 --> 00:55:49,605 Speaker 2: Yeah, My friends and the ones who've been speculated that 1085 00:55:49,645 --> 00:55:53,685 Speaker 2: I'm dating, we love it. Like whatever, there's a gossip 1086 00:55:53,725 --> 00:55:56,005 Speaker 2: article that comes out, we always cried around a phone 1087 00:55:56,005 --> 00:55:57,925 Speaker 2: and we're like reading it, like, oh, I think there's 1088 00:55:58,005 --> 00:55:59,485 Speaker 2: that's hysterical. 1089 00:55:59,885 --> 00:56:03,965 Speaker 1: Like Sophie gossip bingo exactly exactly's gonna get called? 1090 00:56:04,405 --> 00:56:07,165 Speaker 2: Oh, it's so funny, Like the guy went to formal 1091 00:56:07,245 --> 00:56:10,605 Speaker 2: with outat a girlfriend and like we'll just photographed together 1092 00:56:10,725 --> 00:56:12,685 Speaker 2: as like a here's my formal date sort of thing, 1093 00:56:12,885 --> 00:56:14,125 Speaker 2: like here's my best friend. 1094 00:56:14,405 --> 00:56:16,685 Speaker 1: I think it's part of everyone just feeling so invested 1095 00:56:16,725 --> 00:56:20,005 Speaker 1: in your happiness. Yea, And that's not necessarily what happiness is, 1096 00:56:20,045 --> 00:56:22,925 Speaker 1: having a boyfriend or a girlfriend or whatever. That's not 1097 00:56:22,965 --> 00:56:26,365 Speaker 1: necessarily what happiness is, but it's everyone just wants, you know, 1098 00:56:26,685 --> 00:56:29,645 Speaker 1: no happily ever after but it seems to me that 1099 00:56:29,845 --> 00:56:32,685 Speaker 1: you've got that in just who you are and the 1100 00:56:32,805 --> 00:56:35,325 Speaker 1: relationship you have with your family exactly. 1101 00:56:35,445 --> 00:56:38,445 Speaker 2: And I think my friends have such a big part 1102 00:56:38,485 --> 00:56:41,365 Speaker 2: to do with that as well, Like I don't need 1103 00:56:41,405 --> 00:56:43,445 Speaker 2: a boyfriend to be happy. 1104 00:56:43,245 --> 00:56:47,245 Speaker 1: You sure don't. Yeah, what extraordinary women you both are. 1105 00:56:47,645 --> 00:56:48,885 Speaker 2: Thank you. 1106 00:56:48,885 --> 00:56:51,485 Speaker 1: Your relationship is just beautiful to behold as well. The 1107 00:56:51,605 --> 00:56:54,285 Speaker 1: care that you have with each other is just so beautiful. 1108 00:56:54,805 --> 00:56:57,245 Speaker 1: I hope you feel the love that everybody has when 1109 00:56:57,245 --> 00:57:01,285 Speaker 1: I tell them that you're both coming in. Oh. I 1110 00:57:01,365 --> 00:57:05,845 Speaker 1: was so excited to meet Sophie and her mum. I 1111 00:57:05,885 --> 00:57:09,525 Speaker 1: feel like their faces are sort of etched in to 1112 00:57:09,645 --> 00:57:11,605 Speaker 1: my mind and my heart in the way that they 1113 00:57:11,645 --> 00:57:15,045 Speaker 1: are for so many people. And it's really interesting when 1114 00:57:15,045 --> 00:57:18,525 Speaker 1: you meet people that you feel you have watched through 1115 00:57:18,565 --> 00:57:21,285 Speaker 1: the media for so many years and who you've sort 1116 00:57:21,285 --> 00:57:25,845 Speaker 1: of rooted for behind the scenes. They were just so 1117 00:57:27,005 --> 00:57:30,725 Speaker 1: Caroline had like a real sort of solid I don't know, 1118 00:57:30,805 --> 00:57:35,685 Speaker 1: she just seemed very grounded, and Sophie was just more 1119 00:57:35,725 --> 00:57:38,845 Speaker 1: grounded and more delightful than your average nineteen year old. 1120 00:57:38,885 --> 00:57:43,245 Speaker 1: She was just joyful. She has a real lightness and 1121 00:57:43,325 --> 00:57:47,805 Speaker 1: cheekiness in her spirit. And I was just so buzzed. 1122 00:57:47,845 --> 00:57:50,405 Speaker 1: And when I told people that I'd interviewed them, they 1123 00:57:50,445 --> 00:57:52,485 Speaker 1: were like, oh my god, oh my god. Like everyone's 1124 00:57:52,485 --> 00:57:55,325 Speaker 1: got a real connection, which must be kind of weird 1125 00:57:55,365 --> 00:57:58,205 Speaker 1: if you're Sophie and her mum, but yeah, they are 1126 00:57:58,325 --> 00:58:01,845 Speaker 1: such such beautiful people. To find out more or donate 1127 00:58:01,925 --> 00:58:05,165 Speaker 1: to Sophie's charity Day of Difference, which has helped so 1128 00:58:05,365 --> 00:58:08,445 Speaker 1: many people, please head to the link in our show notes. 1129 00:58:09,445 --> 00:58:12,125 Speaker 1: Side was produced by Leah Porges. The executive producer of 1130 00:58:12,165 --> 00:58:15,205 Speaker 1: No Filter is Eliza Ratliffe. I'm Meya Friedman and I'll 1131 00:58:15,245 --> 00:58:17,565 Speaker 1: see you on momamya dot com dot au