A friendship formed while watching her boys play footy in the park led to the publication of a book for journalist Deborah FitzGerald.
“I live in Clovelly,” says Deborah, “which is a Sydney beachside suburb. My sons, who were teenagers at the time, and I were at a local park and a couple of 5 and 7 year olds joined in on a football game my boys were playing. I began chatting to the boys’ mother, Sophie. It ended up resulting in my boys being lined up to do some babysitting for Sophie. At the time, Sophie’s husband was in the final stages of terminal brain cancer. “
Over time, Deborah developed a friendship with Sophie and learned of her story. “I said to her, ‘We really should write this down.’ To have multiple griefs at such a young age and to rise above it. Initially, Sophie was surprised and reluctant to do it. It was a very personal story, so she questioned, Do I want to share that with everyone? Eventually she thought – maybe I do have something to offer others who are facing similar circumstances. Throughout the telling of the story, she really acknowledges that everyone grieves differently. This is just about what helped her.”
Deborah may have been destined for a career as a writer. “I loved English at school,” she says. “I had great teachers - I was encouraged by them. I especially remember having Anne Larkins In Year 11 and 12.”
I loved English at school, I had great teachers - I was encouraged by them. I especially remember having Anne Larkins In Year 11 and 12
On beginning her career as a cadet at The Standard, Deborah says, “Being a regional paper you really needed to be a Jill of all trades. When I discovered that you could go out and interview people and go back and write about it and get paid, it was like a dream come true! You go from interviewing politicians, to the homeless. It’s for people who like asking questions or who are curious.”
Now a senior journalist, editor and writer who has worked across all media platforms including print, radio, television and digital, Deborah has worked for major media organisations including the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Channel Nine and News Corp. She is currently editor of a news website, centralnews.com.au, based at the University of Technology (UTS) Sydney.
Still in touch with her friends from her school days, Deborah reflects, “Angela Mardling, and Danielle Green came up for the book launch. These friendships go beyond the occasional meeting at Christmas. With the friendships that I forged at St Ann’s, I feel blessed.”
Sophie’s Boys tells the true and very personal story of Sophie Smith. When Sophie and her husband Ash discovered they were expecting triplets, it seemed much more exciting than daunting. But when Sophie went into labour at only 21 weeks, their world was turned upside down. Though they fought fiercely Henry lived for just one cherished hour, Evan for 10 days and Jasper was with them for only 58 days.
Heartbroken and back in her empty home, Sophie realised she could not allow herself to drown in her grief. On Ash’s advice, she began to run. Step by step she regained some equilibrium. She became determined to turn her agony into something positive. Gathering supporters around her, she founded the Running for Premature Babies Foundation to raise money for the hospital unit that had cared for her sons. In their first Sydney half marathon, the group raised $80,000.
Sophie and Ash had two more sons, Owen and Harvey, when tragedy revisited them. Ash was diagnosed with incurable brain cancer. Sophie was forced once again into a world of pain and grief, caring for her beloved husband as well as their two young boys. Together, the family faced the reality of death with courage and tenderness.
When Ash passed away in 2016, Sophie once again put one foot in front of the other, and ran. Not running from her pain, but towards something useful. Her charity, the Running for Premature Babies Foundation, has now raised well in excess of $2.5 million to help the thousands of premature babies born each year.
