Jess Van Zeil (Ocular Cancer resulting in the removal of eye) | #23

At 21, Jess Van Zeil felt invincible. From Bungee Jumping to SCUBA diving in South Africa, Jess was fulfilling her dreams as a mad adventurer; her future crammed with plans as a loving daughter, passionate sportswomen and student. 

Then Jess was diagnosed with Conjunctival Ocular Melanoma; a very rare and aggressive form of cancer. 

She was told “We’re going to have to take the eye.” 

It seemed unthinkable, but the alternative was death in five years. 

This week on ListenABLE with Dylan Alcott and Angus O’Loughlin Jess takes us through her story of losing her eye which was only the beginning of the unforgiving emotional and physical battles Jess would face. 

Defying all odds, Jess emerged having discovered the simple yet incredibly powerful principles that not only guided her through the fear, loneliness and anger that threatened to overwhelm her, but revolutionised her mindset to became powerfully positive and ridiculously resilient. 

Listen now to how she did it on her own terms—and with the most dazzling collection of eye-patches in the world! 

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