I think you should leave me…
In 2012, Korrin Barrett was 33 years old, healthy, and at the height of her career while living in Brisbane. Like many, she lived with a sense of invincibility that was shattered by a word she had never even heard before: sepsis
What followed was a harrowing journey that included a coma and a seven-month stay in hospital and rehabilitation. I learned more about her story today in a recording for the podcast The Limb Shift.
When the reality of the amputations of parts of her arms and legs first set in, Korrin described a period of intense questioning—grappling with the unfairness of the situation. In a moment of profound vulnerability and fear of becoming a “burden,” she even suggested to her partner, Craig, that he should leave.
By focusing on small victories, she was able to maintain a perspective that surprised even medical professionals. She recalls a psychiatrist who struggled to believe she could truly feel “lucky to be alive” after such a traumatic ordeal.
This philosophy of small victories was essential when Korrin eventually returned to her career in the demanding mining industry. She applied the same method of breaking tasks down into manageable milestones to navigate her professional reintegration.
While Korrin’s medical journey began in Brisbane, she eventually made the decision to move back home to New Zealand. Like many who face a life-altering health crisis far from home, the pull of familiar surroundings and the desire to be closer to her core support network of family and friends played a significant role in her relocation.
Korrin has since become an advocate within the New Zealand amputee community, noting its unique demographics compared to Australia. Despite the move, Korrin hasn’t cut ties with Australia; she continues to maintain professional relationships with her prosthetists in Australia, ensuring she still has access to the specialists who were part of her initial recovery
The conversation with Korrin will feature in The Limb Shift podcast which will launch later in 2026.