A TRAUMATIC gym accident and a cancer diagnosis have turned the world of a dedicated disability worker upside down.
Days before a planned trip to Bali to celebrate her 30th birthday in February, Sunraysia Residential Services respite manager Jessie Cantwell had a serious mishap with a leg press at the gym.
"I got crushed by 240 kilos, and I broke both of my ankles," Ms Cantwell said.
Her talar head bones were shattered and it took four months for her to learn to walk again.
To make matters worse, Ms Cantwell discovered a lump underneath her collarbone while she was wheelchair bound.
It took months to get an official diagnosis of what the lump was – stage 2 Hodgkin's lymphoma.
"I went from just starting to walk again to finding out I had cancer, pretty much within weeks," Ms Cantwell said.
"It was a big shock, especially because of my age ... I was really healthy and fit and it was just not what I expected ... I didn't feel sick."
Ms Cantwell began her chemotherapy three weeks ago and had fertility treatment immediately before, which caused ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.
"I had a good two days because of the steroids they give you with your treatment, and then it just went downhill and I was bedbound until last Friday," Ms Cantwell said.
"That was really confronting, because then I had to go back to Melbourne on the Tuesday and do it all over again. That was really scary, because chemo is so difficult."
Ms Cantwell had recently been promoted after working in the disability sector for eight years, providing direct care and sleepover support for clients.
She has been unable to return to work since her gym accident.
"I don't know what going back to work will look like for me, it's a bit up in the air due to my health," Ms Cantwell said.
"I have used all my sick leave and am now using all my annual leave ... I have a house I haven't finished, a mortgage to pay, and I still have many months left of treatment."
Jessie's former partner Shaun Blythman said he was distraught when he heard about her cancer diagnosis, and was compelled to "do something extravagant" to help.
He is walking from Renmark to Mildura to raise awareness and funds, hoping to complete the trek in two days.
"Her clients absolutely love her, clients' parents love her, couldn't speak highly enough of her, she's really, really good at what she does," Mr Blythman said.
"That also goes to show the person she is outside of work as well, just a really, really caring person.
"She hasn't had a very good run of events for herself, she needs the funds so we need to do something big."
Mr Blythman has been training for a month and a half for the endurance test, and hopes it will motivate Ms Cantwell through what's ahead.
"It's just something that you wouldn't wish upon anybody, but you definitely wouldn't wish it upon someone like Jessie at all, because she just gives and gives and gives," Mr Blythman said.
"(I wanted to) put in as much effort as I can for someone who deserves it."
SRS is supporting the initiative and Ms Cantwell's rehabilitation, and Tranquil Waters Cullulleraine is providing Mr Blythman a free meal and accommodation tonight in support of his efforts.
A GoFundMe campaign organised by Mr Blythman can be found at www.gofundme.com/f/nevvm-jessies-cancer-battle.
