In September 2011, Turia Pitt, a beautiful 25-year-old mining engineer working her dream job in the far north of Western Australia, entered an ultra-marathon race that would change her life forever. Trapped by a fire in a gorge in the remote Kimberly region, Turia and five other competitors had nowhere to run. Turia escaped with catastrophic burns to 65 per cent of her body. With too little unburned skin left for skin grafts, Turia was put in an induced coma in the Burns Unit at Sydney’s Concord Hospital while her body fought life-threatening infections and her surgeons imported skin from California. She lost the fingers on her right hand and her fingers on her left are partially fused together. She needed a new nose. There have been numerous operation, yet there are many more to come. While the story of Turia’s survival involves many people—other race competitors, her rescuers, medical professionals—at its core is the strong will of Turia herself as she continues the long rehabilitation process with the loving support of her partner, Michael Hoskin, and that of their families in their New South Wales south coast hometown of Ulladulla, where the local community has rallied, raising funds to help with huge medical bills. Everything to Live For is also a love story. Michael, Turia’s handsome teenage crush who became the love of her life, now cares for her as they plan a new life together; he is there to encourage Turia in her determination to move forward in an outwardly different body. The real tragedy of this story is that it should never have happened—because the race should never have happened. Despite facing a future with multiple challenges, Turia is optimistic. She is driving again and studying for her Master’s degree. She is walking in marathons and would one day like to run again. Above all, she wants her story to make a difference: her mission is to make skin a more prominent organ in the repertoire of donated organs. It is a miracle Turia lived when she was expected to die. But Turia was not ready to die—she had too much to live for.

Everything to Live For

Biographies & Memoirs

Harkness, Libby

Pitt,Turia

Community & Culture

William Heinemann Australia

A hilarious memoir reveals what really goes on behind the scenes on a plane, as well as celebrity encounters, the interview process for becoming a flight attendant, travel mishaps, practical advice for frequent flyers, and more Want to know what really goes on on an airplane? Let's go behind the scenes and fly high with these tall tales and gossip from the galley! Everyone wants to be a flight attendant, or at least they want to know about the cushy lifestyle they lead—flying to exotic destinations, swanning about in five-star hotels, daytime lazing around the pool, and night-time tabletop dancing with Bollywood stars. At last the lid is lifted. Come on board a real airline with a real flight attendant and find out what really goes on. Here, Owen Beddall dishes the dirt, telling you the things you always wanted to know—and maybe a few things you didn’t—about the glamorous world of flying. This book is packed with cabin crew adventures and misadventures in and out of that smart uniform in far-flung places. There’s sex, drugs, and lots of celebrity gossip; picture Katy Perry, Lily Allen, Kylie Minogue, Venus Williams, and Cate Blanchett all in the galley having a gossip with Owen. This is a hilariously bumpy ride around the world with a very funny man.

Confessions of a Qantas Flight Attendant: True Tales and Gossip from the Galley

Beddall, Owen

Memoirs

Random House Australia

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Books by Harkness, Libby