We’ve all had splinters, right?
You get one in your finger or foot, pull it out, slap on a Band-Aid, and forget about it.
But for Australian DJ Billie Bedser, what started as a tiny piece of wood buried in her foot became a medical nightmare that lasted nearly five years—complete with seizures, overwhelming fatigue, and being told by doctors it was all in her head.
A Normal Day That Changed Everything
Back in 2020, Billie was just doing some simple yard work—blowing leaves off her lawn—when she accidentally stepped on a stick.
A few wooden splinters lodged in her foot.
Like most of us would, she removed what she could and carried on with her day, thinking nothing of it.
But soon after, things started to go wrong.
The Pain That Wouldn’t Go Away
At first, her foot just hurt more than usual, so she went to see a doctor.
The advice?
“Your body will push it out on its own.”
Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.
The pain grew steadily worse, and Billie said no one seemed to take her seriously.
Over time, what began as a sore foot turned into something much more severe.
By 2022, Billie was mostly bedridden.
“Just putting weight on my foot was unbearable,” she recalled.
As someone who had always taken pride in her health, losing 22 pounds of muscle and her ability to stay active was heartbreaking.
Her Body Started Shutting Down
Things escalated quickly.
Billie began having seizures—sometimes more than once a day.
She described feeling like her body was completely out of sync: struggling to regulate temperature, suffering from insomnia, memory loss, and a complete lack of control over her movements.
“It felt like I was aware of what was happening but couldn’t do anything about it,” she shared.
Her coordination became so poor, she could barely function, and yet, doctors continued to tell her it was all psychological.
Gaslit by the System
Despite visiting countless doctors, psychologists, and psychiatrists, Billie was continuously brushed off.
She was prescribed antidepressants, labeled anxious or depressed, and told it was “all in her head” because of her past mental health history.
“I kept telling them I was in physical pain, but I was made to feel like I was imagining it.
It wore me down emotionally,” she said.
Over time, Billie began to doubt herself too.
“Was I just being dramatic?
Was it all in my mind?” she started to wonder.
Finally, Someone Listened
Everything changed in January 2025, when Billie noticed a lump forming on her foot.
This time, a new doctor decided to take a closer look instead of writing her off.
That month alone, she had 16 medical appointments.
Finally, a scan revealed what was really going on: osteomyelitis—a serious infection in the bone caused by bacteria or fungi.
The culprit?
A two-centimeter wooden splinter that had been lodged in her body all along.
Surgery Brought Relief—But the Recovery Is Still Ongoing
In March 2025, Billie had surgery to remove the splinter, clean the infection, and shave off part of the infected bone.
Since the procedure, she’s had just one seizure—but the fatigue still lingers.
Recovery won’t be instant, but it’s finally moving in the right direction.
Even though her music career was put on hold—first by the pandemic, and then by her health—Billie remains hopeful.
“I’ve lost years to this, but I’ve also learned a lot.
I’m focusing now on healing and rebuilding.”
Finding Strength in the Struggle
Looking back, Billie says the entire experience, while painful and frustrating, taught her resilience.
“Sometimes, the worst moments end up leading us to our greatest growth,” she said.
She hopes that by sharing her story, others who are dismissed or misunderstood by the healthcare system will feel less alone—and more empowered to keep pushing for answers.