Phoebe’s story

During her first semester at university, Phoebe experienced a rare allergic reaction which caused burns to form all over her skin, lungs and eyes. She was admitted to hospital where she spent 5 weeks in an induced coma on life support in Intensive Care. During the coma, her body began to perish so in an effort to save her life, surgeons amputated both her legs below the knee, her left hand and the tips of her right hand fingers.

When Phoebe woke from the coma she slowly realised her body and her life had suffered an irreversible loss. But she soon began to understand that inside of her injured body was the same extraordinary spirit that had always been there and it was this spirit that would propel her forward.

Phoebe spent another 5 months in hospital pursuing a gruelling rehabilitation, learned to walk on prosthetic legs, navigate the world with low vision and eventually returned to university to complete Arts and Laws Degrees with Honours. Phoebe has worked in the Supreme Court of Queensland, community legal centres and in human rights and discrimination law while also raising her two beloved young sons. 

Phoebe has not just survived but she has triumphed over incredible loss and challenges in her life and she now uses her profound knowledge and wisdom to help others do the same.