Local Para athlete Kate Fawkner literally left her hospital bed to fly to Brisbane to compete in the Oceania Masters Athletics Championships in early September, winning two gold medals in her chosen events, discus and shot put.

It was the first time the Oceania Masters Games included Para athletes in the competition, with athletes from 22 countries competing across five days of competition in track and field, cross country, racewalking and multis events.

Fawkner had been in hospital for 26 weeks after suffering a severe head injury after taking a fall while training at the Appin Street Athletics complex.

While in hospital surgeons discovered Fawkner had a brain tumour, and suffered from Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), an inherited progressive disease of the peripheral nervous system.

But even these hurdles could not present the homegrown athletic champion from competing.

"I was excited to go up there and represent Australia," she said.

"It wasn't the ideal preparation but I was determined to get the doctors to allow me to compete."

Fawkner competed in the F7 W60-65 age group winning gold in both her pet events, power seated shot put and discus.

On her return, Fawkner received a letter from the Royal Melbourne Hospital arranging an appointment with a surgeon, yet another challenge ahead for an athlete who refuses to allow life's hurdles from achieving her goals.