Paralympian, doctor and deacon: The extraordinary story of Gemma Dashwood — a champion swimmer mixing medicine and faith

Gemma Dashwood always wanted to be a doctor.

Even as a child, she was no stranger to hospitals.

Shortly after her birth in Canberra, she got an infection in her hip.

It was septic arthritis which destroyed the bone and the joint.

“So I’ve never really known anything else than to have a limp and to have chronic pain and to have multiple operations,” she said.

“Many years on crutches and walking sticks and learning how to walk.”

When walking was difficult, she could swim.

Really swim.