My life has been one huge adventure which I grab with two hands and embrace. Everything isn’t always smooth sailing, but from my own insights, those of my mentors, and reading plenty of books, the tough times dwindle very quick.

Some people believe that my positive spin on life has a lot to do with facing very real life threatening illnesses and seeing past them.

As a toddler, I was run over by a reversing car, and luckily, only broke my femur and was consequently placed into a full leg cast. Being only 20 months old, no doubt this would’ve been quite detrimental to a young tot who recently learnt how to become mobile.

A couple of years later, it was evident, that you shouldn’t chase beach balls on grandstands. So, after falling off a grand stand in Julia Creek, (8 hours west of Townsville, Queensland), things weren’t looking crash hot. My mum is a registered nurse and knew that I wasn’t crying, just because I had fallen 12 feet and landed on a bindi patch. I was passing blood. This was something very serious. Now that may seem horrifying, however, this actually was a true blessing as I had cancer, and without my accident, the cancer probably would’ve gone on, undetected.

However, being a small town, there wasn't anyone available to drive the ambulance to Townsville, which was the closest large regional city. Solution: Dad drove the ambulance, whilst Mum nursed.

After tests were conducted it was found that I had a wilms tumour cancer, and it was encompassing my right kidney. Immediately, I was flown to Brisbane for surgery to remove my right kidney, and to start radio-therapy treatment.

The year was 1975. Revolutionary things were going on in medical science. Time was drawing towards the festive season, and doctors were gearing up for the holiday break. Time to check on my progress before the break.

Sad news was delivered to my parents. The tumour had grown very aggressively and now they were told that my internal organs such as the liver and the bladder were riddled with cancer. More surgery wasn’t an option as the cancer was too wide spread.

“Take your child home to your families and enjoy your last Christmas together.”

With my impending death sentence, they figured that I would be as good a candidate as any, to be a guinea pig for a new drug, however, the outcome was doubtful so late in the game.

Family and friends from near and far prayed, whether they had a faith or not, and got into the true spirit of the Christmas season. Remarkably, I seemed to be doing okay and it was quite a surprise to doctors, to see me turn up to the mid-January appointment.

Excitement mounted as initial tests came up clear. Investigative surgery backed their assessment. Completely clear! Doctors were stunned. The word used was MIRACLE! Everybody was scratching their heads and asking the exact same question. “How did that happen?”

Over 30 years later, people still ask the same question. How did that happen?

Miracles occur everyday. Do what you can, believe what you can, and don't give up!