Every month in The Australian Women’s Weekly, we invite people to share their stories. In the June 2026 issue, we published Tabitha Ellem and her mum Sonia’s story. When she was a young girl, doctors told Tabitha that she wouldn’t live to teenagehood. However, through her own resilience and her mother’s support, she’s now training for the Paralympics.
Read on for their story.
Sonia: Tabitha was my third child. She was a surprise! She was born a month early, but apparently healthy. She seemed a bit different from the other two, but we carried on with life. When she was still little, she began screaming in the middle of the night. It was a really high-pitched scream. The only way to soothe her was to walk her up and down the street, out in the Canberra winters in the dark.
When we went to the doctor for her immunisations, he noticed she had a very big head, and she was diagnosed with hydrocephalus. She had an operation to put a shunt in, but afterwards, I got the impression the neurosurgeon thought there was something else. He told us to go see a paediatrician. At her 12-month check-up, her paediatrician thought she was fine. But when we took her back at 18 months, she hadn’t grown. That was when we met with the genetics team from Sydney.
A rare condition
Sonia: We learned Tabitha had a condition called Hurler Syndrome. The specialists told us that she wouldn’t live beyond 10 years. There was this option of a bone-marrow transplant, but they warned it probably wouldn’t be a very good outcome with that either. I cried a lot after that meeting.
There was not a lot of literature around. It was the days before the internet took off. It was very hard not knowing. Eventually, Tabitha had a cord blood transplant. There was a 30 per cent chance she wouldn’t survive, but she did exceptionally well. She’s always been determined. It was tough, though.
The uncertainty of the future was really hard, especially with it being such a rare disorder. You’re very alone and very lonely. I’d be doing school runs, and I’d be crying.
I was lucky to have support from my family and friends, and my husband, Gerry. We decided to take every day as it came and stop thinking about what could happen, just see what happens. That’s the way we still live. One day at a time.
“I’ve always had a fire in my belly”
Tabitha: I was fortunate because I don’t remember a lot of the operations I went through. When I was older, I was always confused as to why I couldn’t play rugby league. Mum and Dad would say, “You’ll hurt your bones.” I was like: “No, I’m fine. I can run really fast.”
When I was around seven years old, we had a cross-country at my primary school, and they put me in a race. I was thinking, ‘This is going to be so fun. I’m going to win because I’m the fastest runner.’ I was really excited. I ran as fast as I could. I started seeing the other girls running in front of me, but it wasn’t until I crossed the finish line that I realised I was last. I was really disappointed and sad. Since then, I’ve always had a determination, a fire in my belly.
I experienced a bit of bullying from Year Four to Year Six. High school was a lot better. I needed help with reading things off the whiteboard because of cornea transplants in both my eyes, but I had good teachers who supported me and tried to understand my needs.
An incredible teacher
Throughout Years Eight to 10, I was bullied again. I’ve got hip dysplasia, so I kind of wobble when I walk. I had a really incredible teacher in Year Nine and 10 named Cassie Hart, who taught me about resilience and helped me find an escape through dance. It made me feel comfortable and more normal.
When I was in college, COVID came along. Classes were online, and I was always in my room, which was depressing. I started developing arthritis. That threw me off even more. I felt like I was in a loop of the same day, which was: Wake up, shower, breakfast, school, nap. That was me every day.
Sonia: Before COVID, we’d been going to our local Anytime Fitness gym. When it opened again, I suggested that instead of opening the doors on the Advent calendar, how about we open the doors of the gym every morning? Then Tabitha started feeling better.
Exercise saved me
Tabitha: Physically, I started seeing changes pretty quickly. I was looking more toned. But as your body gets used to it, progress becomes slower.
A girl from school who is a personal trainer had recently started working at the gym. I thought, ‘What if I ask her a few questions?’ But I was holding myself back because I always thought she was one of those mean girls. I texted her and said, “Hey, I’ve been going to the gym, but I’ve noticed my progress has slowed down. What would you recommend for that?”
When she replied, my heart was pounding. She said she really appreciated my message and gave me some advice. After that, my muscle mass shot up. My strength shot up.
I started asking her more questions, and we became good friends. She’s become a very important person in my life. When I started posting more of my gym stuff, she was always the first person to like it. She’s been a supporter.
A full-circle moment
My first proud moment was being able to bench-press 50kg, which is at least double my weight. Then, in 2024, I competed in my third powerlifting competition. When it was time for the presentation, I was twiddling my thumbs. As a kid, I always hated assemblies after a swimming or athletics carnival because I always saw other kids winning ribbons and thought, ‘That’s not going to be me.’
Then I heard my name. I was in shock! I got up and could not stop smiling. I couldn’t stop looking at my medal. I was just so proud of myself. It felt like a ‘full circle’ moment for a little kid who always wanted to win a running race.
Next, I am hoping to compete in a development Para Powerlifting competition. I’m aiming to have a shot at that. I’ve been in conversation with a lot of amazing people from Para Powerlifting, and they’ve been helping me to get in the right direction and hopefully make that goal a reality.
Eye on the Paralympics
I also have a goal of making sure I am some sort of inspiration for other people like myself. I do post a bit of content, and I’ve had so many messages from people saying: “Your motivation and your resilience have helped me to become stronger physically and mentally, and to just try things.”
The person who did that for me was Dylan Alcott. He made me prouder to be a person with a disability and grateful that I am capable of doing things.
I am capable of controlling how my life goes. I don’t have to sit in misery and question, “Why me?” Instead, I can walk out the door and say, “Okay, let’s do another gym session.”
This My Story originally appeared in the June 2026 issue of The Australian Women’s Weekly. Subscribe so you never miss an issue.
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