May 24th, 2025Kirsty: Beating the odds – one day at a time

In 2014, Kirsty Plews was living in Melbourne. She was married, pregnant with her second child, completing her psychology degree and raising a toddler. At 36 she was busy but had her life mapped out.  

The day she went into hospital to have her second child, her world fell apart.  

Kirsty suffered several inexplicable seizures prior to giving birth and two days later she woke from an induced coma with no memory, a newborn baby and the news she had brain cancer.  

Nothing could have prepared her for the life-shattering news that forced her on a path of determination and survival.

“The diagnosis was a devastating shock and I knew it was life limiting. I had just finished a degree in psychology and understood how statistics work so I told myself I’m going to be an outlier…the one that the stats don’t apply to,” she said.  

Sharing Kirsty’s story has been years in the making. We first met in 2020 while swimming in Lake Daylesford with our kids. We often spoke about sharing her story in The Local as a way to raise awareness and for Kirsty to thank the loyal  friends, school communities and charities, including the Good Grub Club and  The Daylesford Foundation.

Kirsty especially wanted to thank those involved in fundraising that helped her and her children to visit Scotland and see her family.  Importantly, Kirsty wanted to share her story this month to help raise awareness about brain cancer through the global campaign Go Grey in May.  

When she lived in Melbourne, Kirsty loved visiting Daylesford but never expected to make it her home. Then again, she had always planned to return home to Scotland  following a trip around the world 21 years ago.

Although she had a strong support network in Melbourne, family connections, a stable medical routine and an active  life, Kirsty and her family made the move.  

“We would occasionally drive to Daylesford for mini-breaks and in 2016 after seeing a house by chance, we put in an offer and made the move early in 2017.”  

Looking back, that first year turned out to be one of the toughest and saddest times of Kirsty’s life. Two friends died of brain cancer, her step-mum died days before her brother’s wedding in Scotland, her marriage broke down and by October she was a single mum living in a new town with no family support.

“It was supposed to be a fresh start. It wasn’t. I felt isolated and had to start my journey all over again. New doctors, new friends and a new town. It wasn’t the start I’d imagined.”  

Some days, Kirsty said she just made it through minute by minute, hour by hour.  With incredible support from friends she made in Daylesford, and online through a  brain cancer Facebook page she set up when she was first diagnosed, she was able to  keep moving forward. But accepting help was hard.  

“I was raised in a family that made sure others were okay so it was difficult for me  to drop my guard and ask for help. Thanks to medical support from my wonderful Professor Kate Drummond through to occupational therapists, the local community  and the most amazing friends I have made, I was able to navigate my way through.”  

Anyone who knows Kirsty knows that, along with her razor-sharp wit delivered with her distinctive Scottish brogue, she possesses an astounding determination and will to be that outlier and beat the odds.

“Brain cancer wasn’t really highlighted in the media and I knew little about it. But all the while I knew I had to beat the odds, even if I didn’t know what those odds were.”  

In  2015 when (TV and radio personality) Carrie Bickmore wore a beanie at the Logie Awards in memory of her late husband and to raise awareness, I was relieved that  brain cancer would be better understood and supported.

Initially, Kirsty was told that she would have to undergo the first surgery one month after her diagnosis and a possible second surgery in the future. When she did  have the second surgery she was diagnosed with PTSD.  

“When I was told I had an acquired brain injury, I didn’t know who I was anymore.  

“I was trying to put on a brave face but was internally falling apart. My nerves  were on high alert and I had to learn basic skills again like cooking and interacting  with people,” she said.  

Her bi-annual magnetic resonance imaging scans and numerous appointments are  taxing and she knows a third brain operation is possible. But as time has progressed, new medical opportunities have opened up, improving the odds just a little bit more  each time.  

“There is new gene targeted therapy and my surgeon said I’m a suitable candidate  for the therapy. It’s all about hope and belief.”

And while she continues her medical  fight, Kirsty isn’t wasting a single moment, still focused on giving back to the  community that has supported her through her battle.  

Kirsty coaches the local Under 9’s soccer team, something she never imagined  doing but that has helped her reintegrate into the community and allowed the kids to  continue to play.

She will soon complete her Certificate 3 in crisis counselling and continues to  raise awareness for brain cancer that affects thousands around the world with little  media focus compared to other life-threatening diseases.  

Among all her astounding achievements, Kirsty said her greatest honour was receiving the Dave Endacott Medal awarded by the Daylesford and Hepburn United  Soccer Club.

A small but fitting recognition for someone who has already given so  much to our community and continues to inspire through her goodness and strength.  

And despite her tiredness and health restrictions, Kirsty has never once given up  on life and lives daily with courage and the strength that inspires those in her life.

She  uses humour to get through the tough times and her love of her children, family and community is nothing short of inspirational.  

“It was a difficult beginning here in Daylesford but I can’t imagine being  anywhere else.”  

Donate  

Go Grey in May is an international brain cancer awareness campaign raising  funds for vital research and to support those living with brain cancer. Kirsty is  highlighting the cause through her social media presence by completing a cycling  challenge and hopes people support the campaign.

For Kirsty, that means we could be  a little closer to finding a cure. Scan the QR Code to find out more or donate.  Peace of Mind is the only organisation of its kind in Australia to help brain cancer  patients with one-on-one personal, financial and practical support.

The foundation  has been there for Kirsty through her brain cancer journey.  To donate go to challengebraincancer.gofundraise.com.au/page/TourdeForce  

Words & image: Narelle Groenhout