Karen was born in England to Irish parents and moved to Australia as a baby, growing up with a childhood full of change and learning to adapt to new situations.
Early on, she faced undiagnosed medical challenges with clumsiness, gastrointestinal issues and hypermobility, always feeling there was something different and relying on instinct and persistence. She lived in Northern Ireland as a young adult and England in her thirties, which gave her strength and resilience to face the difficulties that life brought her later on.
She is a resilient cancer survivor and passionate advocate whose journey with Stage 4 Cholangiocarcinoma and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome has shaped her into a powerful voice for awareness, early detection, and survivorship.
Despite enduring multiple surgeries and near-death experiences, she continues to raise awareness and funds through her Socks4Cancer initiative, which has generated over $20,000.
Karen supports numerous cancer organizations, speaks at events, and has been recognized with awards and national honours. As National Communications Coordinator for the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation Australia, she champions initiatives like “Light Australia Green,” making a lasting impact through advocacy, mentorship, and her upcoming book.
Karen learned to build a trusted care team and became active in her own treatment by working together with doctors, not against them. She studied counselling and found creative therapies helpful in her journey and gradually became an advocate and motivational speaker, sharing her story to help others living with chronic illness.
Social Media
Linkedin-https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-humphries-908922b6/
Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/karenhumphrieselevationmentor/
Website-Karenhumphries .com.au
Facebook-www.facebook.com/socks4cancer
*****
We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Kintsugi Heroes.
Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group.
If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here – https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contact
We hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories!
Warmly,
The Kintsugi Heroes team
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Theme Song: “Broken” by Colin Lillie
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Kintsugi Heroes is a not-for-profit Australian podcast network sharing real stories of resilience, disability, and transformation.
Named after the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold — the philosophy that what’s been broken can become more beautiful for the mending — every episode honours the cracks, the rebuild, and the human underneath.
We believe every story matters. Every scar has something to say. And every person quietly finding their way through deserves to be heard.
🏷️ Topics we cover: resilience, disability, trauma recovery, mental health, transformation, lived experience, chronic illness, neurodiversity, grief, identity, community, caregiving, refugee stories, animal therapy, ageing, older Australians, wellbeing, invisible illness, inclusion, personal growth, hope, rebuilding, human connection, Australian stories
📺 Series on this channel:
– Kintsugi Heroes — real stories of resilience | hosted by John Milham
– Animals & Us | hosted by Natalie Stockdale
– Grit Diaries: from Grit to Grace | hosted by Simone Allan & Maryan Bova
– From There to Here | hosted by Emma Bellamy-Dodd
– Golden Threads — stories of disability & resilience | hosted by Dan Dougherty
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