28 June 2024
Sergeant Emily Lahey is nothing if not resilient and determined.
Despite being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in her sinuses, skull and brain more than four years ago, and being given a prognosis of six to nine months, the Melbourne-based Warrior Games competitor continues to valiantly fight the disease.
Sergeant Lahey is now working on achieving personal bests in powerlifting, indoor rowing and athletics at the 14th annual Warrior Games, underway at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Florida, until June 30.
With her husband Jason, parents Sharon and Dean, siblings Darcy and Maggie and mother-in-law Terrie leading the cheer squad from home, 32-year-old Sergeant Lahey – who has no vision in her left eye due to the tumour’s position – will also have the full support of her medical team, who have been surprised at the way she has approached her training.
“I’m on a targeted intervention treatment and am unlikely to ever be in remission or cancer-free as the tumour is inoperable and my cancer typically doesn’t respond well to treatment,” Sergeant Lahey said.
“My participation in the games has shocked a lot of my medical team in that they didn’t necessarily see me as a sportsperson; however, they’ve seen me ramping up my training and giving it a red-hot go.
“It’s true that people who are really sick with cancer can’t be training for an international sporting event, so to me, being active reminds me that I’m alive, strangely.
“It’s a reminder for me that things are going OK.”
There have been occasions where the Army sergeant, who is currently on long-term medical leave, was too sick to walk to the end of her street because of the debilitating side effects of her treatment.
However, physical activity has long played a role in her rehabilitation and will continue to do so post-Warrior Games, regardless of whether there is an Invictus Games in her future.
“There are so many opportunities out there, like the local rowing club,” said Sergeant Lahey, who explained that she found rowing on water quite cathartic.
For now, the games have brought Sergeant Lahey much-needed social connections to compound the isolation she feels as a result of her illness.
“I’ve really missed the connection with other service personnel. A key motivator for me exploring Warrior Games and Invictus Games was investigating how I can be around people who understand what it’s like to be a service member, number one, but who can also relate because they have gone through, or are going through, some kind of adversity,” she said.
“I wanted to find that common ground.
“I was a little overwhelmed at the start and didn’t feel I belonged because there were a lot of people in the team with obvious physical injuries, but I did manage to connect with others who don’t have overt physical illnesses and who also work, so that was really positive.
“Being selected to represent Australia as part of this team is very special. I already feel like I’ve won.”
The Warrior Games is an annual adaptive sporting event that brings together wounded, injured and ill current and former-serving military members from Australia and the US.
