When she enrolled in 2019, Celia had only months earlier lost Matteo, her eldest son, to an incurable and aggressive brain tumour (glioblastoma). Expert care at Westmead Children’s Hospital, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and a clinical inhibitor trial had given them 15 precious months together after his diagnosis, before he passed away at just 12 years of age.
“It was a brutal experience and one of the most harrowing times in my life,” Celia said. “But I always promised Matteo that if there was any answer, we would investigate it. I needed to know why, how and whether more could have been done. My curiosity was sparked, and I also wanted to give back, for all that was given to us.”
Celia was in her late 40s, new to university study and initially didn’t consider herself capable of studying science. Over the next four years, there were certainly “moments of doubt, when the workload seemed overwhelming” – countless hours reading, researching and writing reports and preparing for exams, working late into the night and across weekends. At times, Celia was uncertain she would finish.
But in ways she could never have imagined, she found learning – about chemistry, human physiology and statistics – comforting and even therapeutic.
“It’s difficult to put into words, but my beautiful son’s illness became the catalyst for my pursuit of knowledge. Science felt like the place where I could begin to reason with my grief. I simply couldn’t accept the tragedy that lay before us and needed to understand things on a deeper level.”
For cancer was, sadly, becoming “a dominant narrative” in Celia’s immediate and extended family. Different cancers, impacting different ages with genetic unpredictability, but it was “always at the forefront”. “Trying to figure out why was always in the back of my mind,” Celia said. “I saw my degree and its research as a means of equipping me to cope with what was happening.”
And knowledge brought a degree of peace.
“Through my studies and what we’ve been through, I came to realise that cancer is complex, there are factors unique to each person’s experience and it can be very hard to treat. But we are advancing knowledge all the time. I hope that somewhere, along the line, we will discover the answers, and I want to be part of developing better treatments, to helping prolong the lives of people with terminal cancers.”
Now 50, Celia graduated from UNE late last year. Then, after a summer break, she began a Master of Public Health at the University of Sydney, to further her interest in public health and epidemiology and broaden her scientific base.
“Even now, study distracts me on the bad days. I eventually want to work in a research role, with the likes of Cancer Australia or the Garvan Institute. Matteo was given just 12 to 18 months to live but I would like to one day be in a position to say we can give a person 5 to 10 years or put their cancer in remission.”
In the meantime, Celia’s study has set a positive example for her younger son Luca, 15.
“Watching me learn has encouraged his love of learning, and I’m now able to help him with his maths and science homework. I also have two nieces studying at university who say I inspired them.
“The flexibility and freedom of studying with UNE made it all possible. I recently came across the statement ‘UNE opens doors to open minds’, and it resonates deeply with me.
“Study never felt like a chore. I approached it with gratitude, appreciation and a strong sense of purpose. It pushed me out of my comfort zone, which has probably helped with my grieving.
“I am deeply grateful to everyone at UNE and to those in my life who have supported me. This degree is dedicated to my two sons, who have always been and always will be my inspiration to achieve great things.”
