Two years after having a 5cm brain tumour removed, Amy Pejkovic has returned to competition and has her eye on the 2016 Rio Olympics

LESS than two years after having a 5cm brain tumour removed, Amy Pejkovic is back competing in the high jump and has her eye on the 2016 Rio Olympics.

“I WAS lying there completely disorientated, lightly inhaling, I squirmed a little, tubes were coming out of all different ­places. I couldn’t move a finger, feeling nauseous and weak, my head was in agonising pain, as if about to explode. I still can’t begin to describe the pain I was in.’’

In May 2012, Amy Pejkovic lay in her hospital bed with 19 staples in the back of her scalp. The 5cm brain ­tumour, which was discovered by doctors after Pejkovic had endured more than a month of crippling headaches and vomiting, had finally been removed.

But for one of the world’s most promising high jumpers and in-demand fashion models, the most gruelling marathon of her life was about to begin.

Too exhausted to talk, Pejkovic, 21, either slept or gazed at the hands of her hospital ward clock tick by.

When she closed her eyes, the high jump silver medallist at the 2009 World Youth Championships, wondered if her dream of competing at the 2016 Rio Olympics were over.

“I used to be a little lazy when it came to training or when it came to going to casting. But ever since death was so close, I feel like I’ve been given a second chance.
Amy Pejkovic

News_Image_File: A 5cm brain ­tumour was discovered by doctors after Pejkovic had endured more than a month of crippling headaches.

Having graced the cover of Vogue, Pejkovic told herself not to cry if the invitations to work in fashions shows in New York, Milan and Paris suddenly stopped.

And while she came close, she never once gave in.

“The thought of something bad happening or dying, just wasn’t an option,’’ Pejkovic told The Sunday Telegraph.

“It was always …‘I’m going to get through it and I’ll be fine’. That’s the power of positive thinking.’’

With her balance impaired from the surgery, Pejkovic ­required a walking frame.

“The day after the surgery they were trying to get me up and walking. But that didn’t work very well,’’ Pejkovic said.

“It was horrible, I’d be trying not to cry from the pain.’’

So imagine then, last weekend, witnessing Pejkovic fly.

I hadn’t ­attempted that in four years and to finally jump it again was … I started crying. Mum was crying too. It was so emotional.’’
Amy Pejkovic

News_Image_File: High jumper Amy Pejkovic in hospital recovering from a brain tumour

Pejkovic and her mother Leanne, who is also her coach, were in tears again — this time, they sobbed with smiles.

Competing in the women’s high jump at an athletics meet in Canberra, Pejkovic did something she had not done for four years. She equalled her personal best of 1.86m — a Commonwealth Games B-qualifier. She repeated the effort at the NSW Championships at Homebush last night.

“Oh my god, I can’t even ­explain how I felt. It was unbelievable,’’ she said. “I hadn’t ­attempted that in four years and to finally jump it again was … I started crying. Mum was crying too. It was so emotional.’’

Regaining her strength through “baby steps” one month after surgery, before building to her current nine sessions a week, Pejkovic is targeting the 1.9m mark she has penned with a Sharpie on the frame of her bedroom door.

Reaching that height at the national athletics championships this month would guarantee her a berth at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in July. Courage and fighting spirit has got her to this point. However, it’s Pejkovic’s new outlook on life that sees her rise at 5am to model for a client, before hitting the training track in the afternoon.

“Right now, I just want to get to the Commonwealth Games and then Rio. That would be awesome.’’
Amy Pejkovic

News_Image_File: Amy Pejkovic is hoping to compete at the 2016 Rio Olympics

“I used to be a little lazy when it came to training or when it came to going to casting. But ever since death was so close, I feel like I’ve been given a second chance.

“You learn to appreciate the little things in life that most people take for granted.

“I remember just after my surgery, I walked outside for the first time and I felt the fresh air and the grass and heard the birds, it was such an overwhelming experience.

“You never stop to think about those things. But put in that position, I was like ‘wow, there is just so much you take for granted’.’’

Prior to surgery, not a day went by that Pejkovic wasn’t overcome by headaches and illness. Her trainer, Hayden Knowles, hates to admit it now, but he thought her hurried run towards the ladies room before every session was merely an excuse not too train.

Today, Knowles watches in awe as Pejkovic juggles the pursuit of a spot in the Australian teams for Glasgow and Rio with a modelling portfolio that includes Chanel, David Jones and Lorna Jane.

“My agency wanted me to go over and do the Fashion Week circuit, but I had to say ‘Oh, I can’t I’ve got to stay and train’. Right now, I just want to get to the Commonwealth Games and then Rio. That would be awesome.’’’

News_Rich_Media: Amy Pejkovic jumps 1.86m at NSW Championships

AMY PEJKOVIC DIARY

RECOVERY STAGE 1:

I slowly and gently tried to open my eyes from my drug induced sleep, small moans of pain, I was laying there completely disoriented, lightly inhaling, I squirmed a little, tubes were coming out of all different places.

I was confused to where I was and what had just happened, my entire body was frozen, I couldn’t move a finger, feeling nauseas and weak, my head was in agonising pain, as if about to explode. I still can’t begin to describe the pain I was in.

I can’t recall what happened while I was in ICU, but I’ll try my best to remember what I can.

The first thing I remember was vaguely seeing was my mum, dad, my brother, sister, and James, standing around me. James sat by my side feeding me ice cubes, I was so dehydrated that as soon as I finished a piece, my mouth and my lips were as dry as the Sahara desert.

The day after the operation I lay in immense pain. A nurse came in and spoke to me in a very gentle voice and said that I was being taken down to have a MRI scan to check my brain, the swelling and the resultant trauma post surgery.

This also was for reverencing to future scans. But all I remember is the feel of the bed vibrating as I was being wheeled through numerous hall ways, the sounds and the feeling of going over the uneven entry to the elevators to beeps of the machines all around the hospital and mum by my side. Every mall movement made my head throb, sobbing,

I just wanted it all to go away!!

We got down to the MRI machine, I’m not sure how many but there was a number of men that lifted me off my bed and onto the bed of the MRI machine, they made sure I was as comfortable as I could possibly be. The next thing I knew I was being lifted back onto my bed and being wheeled back up to my room.

I had visitors coming in and out, only a few people at a time, and only family members and really close friends. I would try to speak to them, but I could only mutter a few words, the sound of

whispering was like a marching band parade in my head, so most of the time, everyone just sat in silence. They would talk to mum as she had the most up-to-date information on my condition…..she barely left my side.

When everyone had gone and it was just me alone, in the quiet room with only the beeps of the machines next to me, I began to think, “was I going to be okay?, will all my limbs work properly? Will I ever jump again? Walk the catwalk? ….or just even walk again? wiggling my toes and fingers, and trying to tense my muscles to see if they were all responding, I smiled a little, everything seemed to be okay.

READ AMY’S DIARY IN FULL HERE