Emily Shepherd – Room Nomination

In 2019, Emily was a fit and healthy young professional. Formerly a national representative in water polo, she was working in health care, caring for 3 children and organising her wedding.

But with her wedding day around the corner, she received a crushing diagnosis. During a touch rugby game with her family, she received an errant pass from her husband and ruptured her bicep tendon. A very innocuous incident that thankfully uncovered something far more sinister. Following numerous scans, specialist appointments, and tests, the doctors discovered a cancerous tumour in her shoulder. 

She would require surgery to remove 5 muscles and part of her shoulder. Surgery was scheduled for the day she returned from her honeymoon.

Following surgery, she was told that the surgery appeared to be successful in removing all of the tumour. She was also told that she may never be able to swim again.

This blog will not come close to capturing the journey Emily and her family travelled through in 2019. Nor could you ever tell, if you encountered Emily’s demeanour throughout this ordeal. From the day she commenced rehabilitation with her physiotherapist Andy, she exuded positivity, energy, and incredible determination. She would choose the pain of discipline, over the pain of dysfunction. She would not be held back by her diagnosis. 

She quickly set herself a goal of returning to swim freestyle for 100m within 3 months. Shortly after, Emily would regain full range of motion overhead. You can see in the video below, footage of Emily completing her first deadlift set, a mere 3 months post-op. Emily would then go on to complete her dream big goal of returning to swim, smashing a huge 1.5km in her first swim. 

Emily also received some fantastic news in 2020, discovering she was pregnant. PEAK are delighted to congratulate Emily and Gary on the arrival of their beautiful daughter Isobel, born on New Years Day.

Well done Emily!