Jerusha Mather has been defying immense physical challenges and external expectations her entire life.
Diagnosed with cerebral palsy as an infant, doctors in her home country of Sri Lanka told her parents she’d never walk or talk.
“I was turning yellow as a result of jaundice-hyperbilirubinemia. My blood was poisoned and I needed immediate medical attention, including a full blood transfusion,” Ms Mather said.
Shortly after the diagnoses Ms Mather’s parents decided to move the family to Australia, hoping for a better future.
The move paid off.
Ms Mather has just completed a bachelor of science (biomedical sciences) at Victoria University and will attend a graduation ceremony in mid-December.
While she’s incredibly proud of the achievement, she’s quick to point out her journey hasn’t been an easy one.
“It was very hard adjusting to the new-found life here at first, however through the physical, occupational and speech therapy I received, the muscles in my two legs started to strengthen and my speech started to improve and I was able to walk and talk,” she said.
“It feels great to be able to get to this point and to be graduating. It’s been a pleasant journey and I’m glad my hard work over the past three years of study have paid off.”
Having completed her degree, Ms Mather is determined to become a neurologist, but to do so, she’ll once again have to defy external expectations.
Ms Mather has applied to several medical schools in Australia, but has been knocked back because she is unable to complete a very rigorous Graduate Australian Medical School Admissions Test.
Ms Mather put in a request to the Australian Council for Education Research, asking for special consideration, which would allow her to sit the exam over several days to avoid fatigue, however it was knocked back.
Ms Mather says she’s not about to give up.
“I have done so many things I was told I’d never be able to do,” she said.
“I’ve had to make negative people look at the possibilities in a person. These experiences have left me a stronger person who won’t take no for an answer.”
