Melinda Mao left Australia for a family holiday to Hong Kong in 2008 planning to come home a few weeks later and continue her Law and Accounting degree.
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But she couldn't return for seven years.
She developed a virus on the flight over that advanced into encephalitis – a rare and aggressive inflammation of the brain – and spent four months in a coma.
In Western countries, encephalitis affects 7.4 people per one hundred thousand, with Australia's annual death rate at 2.3 per one million, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Melinda's father George called it "the most serious form of brain disease".
"She is lucky to be alive; the doctors didn't think she had a chance."
George and Melinda's mother Loran were forced to retire from their Sydney jobs and fight desperately for their daughter's life in China. She miraculously awoke from the coma despite doctors' strong doubts, but her journey was far from over.
"When I woke up I thought I spoke well but no one understood me," Melinda explained.
"I couldn't walk, had to spend my time in a wheelchair, and lost all my friends because they went on to study, graduate and work."
Melinda was unfit to travel for years due to the risks an aeroplane's air pressure would pose to her brain. She barely went out during this period because the crowded, noisy streets were too overwhelming for her.
Despite being told she'd never speak and walk again, eight years on she's studying Business and accounting at CIT and is able to do most daily activities independently.
"She has gone through a really hard journey," speech pathologist Trang Nguyen said.
"We didn't have the benefit of seeing Melinda in the first crucial part of her recovery, but she is so self-motivated, a hard worker and has become more and more self-aware and confident within herself."
The 29-year-old is now speaking clearly, walking without a wheelchair, exercising, socialising and has revisited her passion for singing, which she practices at home with her dad.
"George has a great voice so he encourages them to sing together because she used to love to sing, but she became very timid and afraid," Loran said.
"But after taking the treatment from Trang she started singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and now is singing songs like Yellow Submarine, and her favourite, Sound Of Music.
When she sings, I can see light coming out from her tingling eyes."
Mrs Mao wants people to see Melinda's story as one of courage, hope and persistence, especially for others in similar situations.
"When she came to Canberra hospital, she found meaning in life. I want to say never give up."
"She's my silver line of hope," Mr Mao said.
