Emma Carey, spreading her incredible story and positivity in Canberra.

Posted on 23 August, 2022

In 2013, Emma Carey and her best friend Jemma Mrdak left Canberra for the adventure of a lifetime.

The 20-year-olds, who had been besties since meeting at St Thomas the Apostle Primary, travelled to Switzerland where Emma convinced Jemma to go skydiving.

But it was a life-altering event when Emma fell 15,000 feet after her parachute and emergency chute became entangled and choked her instructor unconscious.

The accident left her with a broken L1, pelvis, and a spinal cord injury. She was told, unsurprisingly, she would never walk again.

But for the hundreds of thousands who have followed her miraculous journey on social media well know, Em not only learnt how to walk again, but she has forged a life of unmitigated positivity, advocating for spinal chord injuries and moving forward with joy.

Jemma was by Emma’s side after the skydiving accident.

Her new book, The Girl Who Fell From the Sky, is a call to action that reminds us to not take our lives and abilities for granted.

And Emma is returning to her hometown from her base on the Gold Coast as part of a national book tour which will take in Sydney, Canberra, Gold Coast, Brisbane and Melbourne. She will be interviewed on the book at Verity Lane Market by none other than Jemma as they share so many of these formative experiences together.

We chat to them both.

Emma, how long did it take you to write and what were the highest highs of the writing process as well as the lowest lows?

Funnily enough one of my favourite parts of the writing process was writing the acknowledgements. It was so lovely (and emotional) to spend time really reflecting on just how much people have done for me over the course of this journey. Circumstance and situations influence us so much, but I truly believe nothing impacts us more than the people in our lives and I’m so lucky to have such an incredible circle around me.
One of the most difficult things for me to write about was the legal case I went through for six years. Unlike the skydive (which happened almost a decade ago), I have very rarely spoken about this experience and so it is much more raw and painful to look back on.

Emma, how are the nerves ahead of the book going out into the world for public consumption?

It’s weird, I haven’t felt nervous at all up until the last few weeks. This story has been something which has existed in my life and in my laptop for so many years, so it’s quite odd to know that it will soon be out into the world as well. There are a few parts of the book that I’m nervous for certain people to read, but overall I feel very confident in my words and the messages I aim to pass on to the reader. More than anything, I’m excited to share it.

Emma, do you ever want to go back to who you were before the accident?

That’s such a tricky question because there are two contradictory answers and I think both can be true. On one hand I definitely miss how carefree I was before the accident. I miss not having to use catheters to go to the bathroom, I miss being able to run, I miss not living with the knowledge that life can change in a split second. But on the other hand the accident has been extremely transformative and has instilled in me a profound sense of gratitude and perspective, so I definitely wouldn’t trade where I am now for anything.

Emma and Jemma in First Grade

Emma, how crazy will it be to speak to Jemma on stage in front of an audience?
I’m honestly just so excited for this part! I can’t stop thinking about how much the little versions of us would laugh at this crazy experience that we get to have.

Jemma: How did you feel when you read the book for the first time?

I actually haven’t read it yet!!! I’m waiting for my copy to arrive (it should come any day now), but when Emma was writing the book, she shared a few of the chapters with me, and they are so incredibly well written and had me both smiling and crying at the same time. It’s going to be such a beautiful, well-written memoir, and I cannot wait for the world to dive right in and read it.

Jemma, what has changed about Emma since the accident and what has stayed the same?

Emma is still the most kindest, caring and compassionate friend, and she’s the same girl that I met back in year one; we still laugh today as we did back then. I feel as though Emma has realised her full potential in life and, because of the accident, has been able to give so much back to many people, and it has given her the opportunity to help so many. I’m so proud of her for providing so much joy and happiness to people. I’m thankful for her and what she has done for me every single day.

Bride Jemma and bridesmaid Emma at Jemma’s wedding last month.