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More Smiles

7/31/2015

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I have been much smilier than usual. 
Mum thinks it's because I know there is something incredible happening with my house. Follow the story here.
It could be that I am happy because I am living with my crazy Aunty Carol...
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Dexter's 2013
Dexter's First Month
Dexter's Vision
Dexter's Cerebral Palsy
Dexter's Cancer
Who is Dexter?
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Echidna Roll Fun

7/31/2015

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We had a fun morning! 
My noisy sister was been away all day.
So, Mum took my baby sister and I to get a coffee from our friend, Rob's, new coffee shop. I loved the music and the seat was super comfy. I could sit on the seat... all on my own! I had a yummy babycino and gave Mum huge smiles! 
Mum liked that I was so happy!
Remember my echidna rolls?
They are a good sign that I am happy. Here I am, doing an echidna roll today:
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Helping a Boy Stand

7/30/2015

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We were contacted by the great people at Leckey. 
They wondered how we feel about my Mygo Stander.  We love it! 
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We got my MyGo stander a little over two years ago.
We trialed a range of standing frames. I was strapped in to each of them, and they were examined, to see how well they suited my needs. We looked at head support, torso support and room for the stander to adjust, as I grow. The Leckey MyGo Stander was the one we liked the most.
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The Leckey MyGo stander has been so beneficial for me, and us. I'm four years old and I have level 5 spastic dystonic quadriplegic cerebral palsy. I need support with everything. Because of the MyGo stander, I can spend time, every day, standing. I get to see the room from a standing position, and this is really good for my vision impairment. 
I used to spend time in my stander each morning, but I got so strong at standing in the frame that I needed more time in it. Now, I am in my stander in the evening, after dinner and a bath. It's perfect. 

Mum is really good at strapping me into the stander now! She's super fast! She finds it quiet simple to put me in it. She puts my AFOs on and then my leg wraps. After that, she lies me in my stander, straps me in and then winds and tilts me into a standing position. 
Mum really likes how supportive the stander is for me. After my femoral osteotomy procedure, one of my legs is about two centimetres shorter than the other one. This isn't a problem in my stander, because Mum placed a 'spacer' on to the foot rest and this leveled my leg height.

When we bought my Leckey MyGo stander, Mum and Dad opted to purchase a frame that was slightly too big for me, so I could grow into it. And, as I grow, the frame can grow with me. I will be able to use this frame for a couple more years. 
A simple allen key system means changes to the frame can be made in a simple and time effective manner. This is important to us, because we are very busy.

Mum's favourite aspect of the MyGo stander would have to be the tray, with the inserted bowl. I was always a very serious little boy. When I was twelve months old, I was diagnosed with hepatoblastoma (liver cancer). This was at a time when I could have been learning to play, but I was very sick and didn't want to play with anything. I have cortical vision impairment, and I never really played with toys. Sometimes, I just couldn't see them. Sometimes, my cerebral palsy stopped me from being able to reach for toys, or to hold them.
But, now... when I am in my stander, I play! 
The first time I was in my MyGo stander, Mum was washing the dishes and could hear the rattling of toys and the scratching of fingers on the tray top. She found my frame's bowl lifted from the frame tray and thrown on the floor, and she heard chuckling. She heard me learning to play! 
Now, I am constantly throwing all my toys (and the bowl!) on to the floor. 

Standing is important for me. I need to spend some time standing to help with my digestion and bowels. Standing helps with my bone strength and bone density. It lets me see the world from a different perspective; not just from the floor. Standing leaves my hands free to move. I'm much better at picking up things and holding them. My fingers are much stronger! 
Mum loves my stander. 
She said: "I have and will continue to recommend this standing frame."
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Both of my sisters love my stander! The older sister is used to it now, but she still likes to climb on it, and spend time with me. My younger sister crawls straight to the standing frame, as soon as Mum starts tilting me in to position. 
My older sister has the job of collecting my toys and the bowl, whenever I throw it to the floor! If I do it too many times, she stops picking things up!

At the moment, we are renovating my house, making it more accessible for me when I get my first wheelchair. 

Last weekend, there was a lot of excavation happening at the house. I was watching it, in my standing frame.
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Because I was listening to the excavator, I was happy to stay in my standing frame. I was in it for about three hours! 
We really like this standing frame.
Standing Tall & Feeling Loved
Firefly GoTo Love
When Wheelchair Stops Being a Dirty Word
Dexter's 2013
Dexter's First Month
Dexter's Vision
Dexter's Cerebral Palsy
Dexter's Cancer
Who is Dexter?
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Counting Friends

7/27/2015

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This was a photo taken at school today.
I'm playing with my friend. She was holding out lots of coloured counters and letting me pick one up. After I picked one, she would get the same coloured jar and put it underneath my hand. Then, she would tell me when to let it go. I had fun playing with her!
Mum loves the kids at my preschool. She loves how much they play with me. She loves how inclusive and supportive they are. She loves that they let me play with them... make adjustments for me, but also expect I can do things. They even helped me knock down wooden towers, today.
Mum doesn't know the other parents. She always runs off, to do her jobs, so she doesn't stay to talk. Mum likes how the other parents know me and always say hello to me with a smile. 
This photo is a bit grainy... It's a photo of a printed photo... But, while the quality of the photo isn't that great, what is happening in the photo is awesome. 
It's photos like this that make Mum and Dad smile. 
We love my preschool.
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Day Three

7/25/2015

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While the official start date for the Doing it for Dexter renovations is the first of August, demolition is well and truly happening! Here's Day Three:
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Day Three was another busy day! Grant from Shark Plant Hire was at the house for his third day. He was knocking down walls, digging trenches, lifting up pavers and bricks and leveling the ground. Lorenzo from Smith and Sons and Rob from Coastal Windows and Doors were there, too. Rob cut another brick wall, so Grant could knock it down.  Thank you!
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It didn't take long and the wall was down. 
It didn't take much longer, and Grant had the bricks in his truck. 
The pavers from the front courtyard were next.
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In the afternoon, when there was still a lot of work to be done, Grant called Steve from A&S Civil, who brought his own machine over and jumped in to lend a hand. Thank you!!
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What a difference a day makes!
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Huge thank you to Grant and Shark Plant Hire and to Summer Winter Scene in Oak Flats for doing up the Doing it for Dexter stickers. They look great!
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Shout out to Lorenzo from Smith and Sons, for all the work that has been done, and the work that is yet to be done! Thanks also to Tiny Tins, who have helped with skip bins!
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People are good! 
Thank you so much.

We are so excited about how the finished house will look. We'll keep sharing photos here. Once we get to the inside and the finishing details, we will only give away snippets of the work... to keep everything a nice surprise for our reveal party.
If you want to join us, email doingitfordexter@gmail.com We still need help with flooring. Message us through the Doing it for Dexter facebook page

Click here to 
see who offered support in 2014
The Original Idea
Dexter's Fun Plans

Coastal Windows and Doors
Smith and Sons Shellharbour 
Melissa 

Dexter's 2013
Dexter's First Month
Dexter's Vision
Dexter's Cerebral Palsy
Dexter's Cancer
Who is Dexter?
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Watching Grant 

7/24/2015

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Yesterday, we moved out of my house. There is still a bit of 'stuff' at my house, though, so we were back there today. While Mum and Dad were doing things around the house, I spent some time in my standing frame. I was doing my therapy, while watching Grant on the digger! 
It was so much fun! 
And, tomorrow... I might be allowed to sit on the bobcat!
Keep up with the story of my house renovation on the Doing it for Dexter blog. There are more photos there. 
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If you want to join us, email doingitfordexter@gmail.com 
Message us through the 
Doing it for Dexter facebook page

Click here to 
see who offered support in 2014
The Original Idea
Dexter's Fun Plans
Dexter's 2013
Dexter's First Month
Dexter's Vision
Dexter's Cerebral Palsy
Dexter's Cancer
Who is Dexter?
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And... it's Started!

7/23/2015

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What a busy day today was! 
Concrete was cut, walls were knocked down and the family moved out. 
Thanks Jaymar Concrete Cutting Services, Super Cheap Storage and Shark Plant Hire! Today was a great day!
Thanks to Lorenzo, for the work and the coffee! 
And, a special thanks to Amy and Ollie for the sugar boost! 
Today was an amazing start to this fantastic project!
Read more, and see bigger pictures on the Doing it for Dexter blog.
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If you want to join us, email doingitfordexter@gmail.com 
Message us through the 
Doing it for Dexter facebook page

Click here to 
see who offered support in 2014
The Original Idea
Dexter's Fun Plans

Coastal Windows and Doors
Smith and Sons Shellharbour 
Melissa 

Dexter's 2013
Dexter's First Month
Dexter's Vision
Dexter's Cerebral Palsy
Dexter's Cancer
Who is Dexter?
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On The Fridge

7/23/2015

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I went to preschool today.
I painted a picture. And then, my teacher helped me write on it. 
This picture is  for my Crazy Auntie Carol! I was nodding excitedly, when they asked me whether this was Auntie Carol's painting. 
Mum and Dad took me to her house, after preschool, and we stuck it to her fridge. That was a fun surprise for her!
Because I paint while I am in my tray, I often paint arches. When the colours get changed and with a tiny bit of help, I can paint rainbows!
That is so cool, because we have always chased the rainbows and the silver linings, even on the worst days.


Oh, and today... they said I was not allowed to do face painting... 
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This One’s For Aunty Carol
I Remember. Aunty Carol’s Version
Dexter's 2013
Dexter's First Month
Dexter's Vision
Dexter's Cerebral Palsy
Dexter's Cancer
Who is Dexter?
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Yabby Beach Wheelchairs

7/20/2015

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We recently learned about Yabby Industries. _
Yabby Industries sell beach wheelchairs. Everyone who has trouble walking needs a beach wheelchair... The first time I got down to the beach... Oh man! That was a happy day! Everyone was so happy! 
And me? It took a few waves, but then I loved it. I loved the noises... the waves and the laughter, the squeals and the fun. 
And, I loved the splashes, as the waves hit me. I loved the motion of the beach wheelchair, as the waves lifted and moved my chair. 
I am so lucky. Thanks to One Fitness 24/7, I have my own beach wheelchair. 
If you don't, (or you are a company and would like to buy one of the beach wheelchairs and donate it to your local council, complete with business advertising), Yabby Industries can help you out.
From their website:
Yabby Industries was established in 1999 and is located on the Mid North Coast of NSW. We have used our trade skills to continuously keep up with modern technology to produce top quality products for people with disabilities.
Our mission is produce the best quality goods at competitive prices and offer service with honesty and integrity to maintain our reputation in the industry.
We produce a wide range of products to service people with special needs, please contact us for more information on other services that we can provide.


Contact: 02 6593 6212

If you have a beach wheelchair, you might one day need to repair a tyre. If so, the Yabby Industries website has a great 'How To' video. Find it here. 

Until you get our own beach wheelchair, you can find a beach with one of the beach wheelchairs here. 
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Mapping Beach Wheelchairs
Hitting the Waves
ABC National: Life Matters
Boarding Beauties
Stand Up Paddle
Surfing Star
Dexter's Cerebral Palsy
Dexter's Cancer
Who is Dexter?
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The Fencing is UP!

7/20/2015

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After dropping Dexter at preschool, and running a few errands this morning, Lenice came home to this! The house is now wrapped in temporary fencing! 
Thanks A+ Quality Temp Fencing! 
There's not long until Move Out Day, now! 
Lenice has donated car loads of 'stuff' to charity, throw away a lot of 'stuff' and has been busy packing the rest of it. 
Some pavers have been ripped up and recycled, going to a new home. 
Time is flying, and the house is getting very close to Renovating Day! 
This is going to be an incredible journey, and it's a very exciting time. 
And, Tradie Mates - bring your signs around! If no one is home, cable ties are in the mailbox! Tie your sign to the fence.
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A very big shout out to 
A+ Temporary Fencing Pty Ltd, 
who have provided the temporary fencing for the Doing it for Dexter house renovations. 
Thank you!
Read more about them here.
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We're still looking for support with timber flooring.
If you want to join us, in the Doing it for Dexter renovations email doingitfordexter@gmail.com 
Message us through the 
Doing it for Dexter facebook page

Click here to 
see who offered support in 2014
The Original Idea
Dexter's Fun Plans

Coastal Windows and Doors
Smith and Sons Shellharbour 
Melissa 

Dexter's 2013
Dexter's First Month
Dexter's Vision
Dexter's Cerebral Palsy
Dexter's Cancer
Who is Dexter?
Return to 
Home page

Find me on: facebook   twitter   instagram   pinterest    youtube

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<<Previous
    Dexter's Flying Fox Fun
    Picture
    Popular Posts
    I'm a Kindy Kid!
    Would you like some cake?
    We Nearly Lost Him
    Equal Love
    When I Was Tiny
    See The Cancer?
    I Just Want to be a Mum
    Who is Dexter?
    Learning to See
    And then, they whispered about me

    Dexter's Comm. Bank account details are:
    Dexter Heffernan
    BSB #  062562
    Acc # 10234461
    Extra therapies for Dexter. Thank you xxx
    Our Charity Fundraising:
    #DEXTERSMATES for Camp Quality 
    $11,595 raised
    Relay for Life
    We raised
     $20,967.60

    Others $2630
    Total raised for charity:
    $35,192.60
    Dexter's You Tube
    Surfing
    Cancer in Photos
    Beach Dash
    Stand Up Paddle
    Premmie
    First Month in Photos
    Dexter's You Tube
    Books & characters with disabilities here

    Find a Beach Wheelchair near you

    Buy a Yabby beach wheelchair here.
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    "I am tired, I am having a bad patch and I am unsure if I want to scream, get drunk or most likely just pull myself together and get on with it."  Kelly Dugan
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    Australian accessible toilets mapped  here.

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