So much love.
Some people are just meant to be a part of your life.
So much love. Today, I went to hospital. Mum and Dad told me we were there to visit. We were dropping off $1,580 worth of gift cards. When I was sure I wasn't getting a needle or a cannula, I was happy to go inside. When we got to the Wollongong Hospital Children's Ward, I saw so many of my nurse friends! I was so happy. Lots of them remembered me, even though I haven't seen them for so long. They all said how big I had gotten. We told them I was there to give them our gift cards; yours and mine. The acting Nursing Unit Manager was very happy to accept our gift cards. She will hand them out to the teenagers and the sick kids, over the next few days. She said the kids will love them! Because we were able to collect 51 gift cards, we had more than enough for the teenagers in the Children's Ward. So, we took a few of them to the Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit (the NICU). It was weird to stand outside the door. We could hear the alarms on the monitors and it made us remember my NICU days (122 days including five weeks in the Wollongong NICU). Some of my nurses came out. They were surprised at how big I am and liked hearing that I had just finished Kindergarten. We gave them a few of the gift cards, so they could hand them out to the mums and dads who will have a baby in the NICU, this Christmas. Thank you to everyone who supported this idea. Thank you for helping us brighten the day of 51 families. Thanks for helping us make Christmas a little more fun for the families and kids staying in hospital, this year. Here's how it all happened: On the first of December, we said we wanted to collect iTunes cards, google play cards and movie vouchers. We said we wanted to give them to the teenagers in the Wollongong Hospital Children's Ward, on Christmas Day. We'd never done this before, and we hoped we could get about 10 cards. We got so much support! We are so happy with how quickly and how readily people supported our idea. We feel so lucky and so proud that people trust us so much. We really appreciate the support that is shown for all of our ideas. We ended up collecting $1,500 worth of iTunes cards, google play cards and movie vouchers, in just 18 days. We wrote on Christmas cards, sending our hospital buddies love, smiles and healthy thoughts. We wrote that the gift card was a present from a friend of Dexter. We wrote that we hoped the gift card brought them some fun. Thank you, every single one of you, who supported this idea. This Christmas, you will make a lot of sick teenagers smile. You will make their families feel loved. You have helped parents of tiny babies feel supported. Thank you for helping us make a difference, this Christmas. REMISSION
When Your Heart Aches with Sadness My Walking Goal What a Dollar means to Dexter When Wheelchair Stops Being a Dirty Word Stuck in a Rut Embrace the Lion Open Letter Thanking Parents for the Parties I’m a Kindy Kid! 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 Mum said ‘Choose your own outfit for the Santa photo’! My sisters are funny! Santa was snuggly. He gave my sisters a quick cuddle after our photo, because he knew I needed help to sit and they couldn’t sit on his lap. Thanks, Santa! #dextersreality #cerebralpalsy #santa REMISSION
When Your Heart Aches with Sadness My Walking Goal What a Dollar means to Dexter When Wheelchair Stops Being a Dirty Word Stuck in a Rut Embrace the Lion Open Letter Thanking Parents for the Parties I’m a Kindy Kid! 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 On the first of December, we told you we wanted to collect iTunes cards, google play cards and movie vouchers. We said we wanted to give them to the teenagers in the Wollongong Hospital Children's Ward, on Christmas Day. We'd never done this before, and we hoped we could get about 10 cards. We got so much support! So, we hoped we could get $500 worth of gift cards, for the teenagers in hospital. Then, we aimed for $1,000. We are so happy with how quickly and how readily people supported our idea. We feel so lucky and so proud that people trust us so much. We really appreciate the support that is shown for all of our ideas. We ended up collecting $1,500 worth of iTunes cards, google play cards and movie vouchers, in just 18 days. We wrote on Christmas cards, sending our hospital buddies love, smiles and healthy thoughts. We wrote that the gift card was a present from a friend of Dexter. We wrote that we hoped the gift card brought them some fun. We will hand 100% of the gift cards to the hospital. Dexter will meet with the acting Nursing Unit Manager of the Children's ward on Friday. He will give the gift cards to her, to be handed out on Christmas Day. The response we got was so amazing! We hoped we would have enough gift cards to hand out to all of the teeagers in hospital. We have that, easily! So, we decided that we might drop some of the extra gift cards off at the NICU at the Wollongong Hospital. Dexter spent four months in three NICUs. We know how long and challenging the days can be, especially for long termers, like Dexter. We thought a gift card might bring a smile to some weary mums and dads of babies in the NICU. We hope you don't mind us doing this. Thank you, everyone who supported this idea! Thank you for believing in us. Thank you for helping us bring smiles to the faces of the teenagers, who will spend Christmas Day in hospital. Thank you. People really are good. *We will post a photo of Dexter at the hospital, on Friday. x REMISSION
When Your Heart Aches with Sadness My Walking Goal What a Dollar means to Dexter When Wheelchair Stops Being a Dirty Word Stuck in a Rut Embrace the Lion Open Letter Thanking Parents for the Parties I’m a Kindy Kid! 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 We were lucky!
We were given some tickets to see the CareFlight Magic Mania show! We are all a bit excited! We even got a Henry and Friends Bear! Thanks #CareFlight What a great way to start the school holidays. **Dexter once needed to be airlifted to Sydney, by the NETS team. You never know when something might happen and you might need the support of the Care Flight team. Learn more about them on their website, here. Back in February, this year, I was pushed into school for my very first day of Kindergarten. We were all a bit excited. This was a big day and there were so many wonderful possibilities before me. We were also a bundle of nerves and concerns. What if it didn't work? What if we were wrong? What if the doubters were right? What if the kids didn't like me? What if the teachers didn't like me? We could feel lots of eyes on us, watching as my wheelchair stopped in front of the classroom. We wondered how many parents might have wished I wasn't in their child's class. I could feel that Mum and Dad were a bit worried, but I was excited. On my wheelchair, I have a tray. And, on my tray, was my communication switch. I pressed and pressed and pressed that big blue button. The pre-recorded "Good morning!" could be heard again and again and again. And, kids were saying hi to me, which just made me press that button even more. That morning, Mum and Dad walked away from my classroom, hoping with all of their hearts that this school business would be a success. This year, in school, I thrived. The choice to send me to that school was perfect. The kids in my class were amazing. They walked around my bulky equipment without a thought about it. They came to know me and started slinging an arm across my wheelchair... Mates. They had conversations with me. The grown ups often didn't understand me, but the kids did. I can be noisy, even though I am non-verbal, but the kids knew I was learning and trying to stop talking, so they didn't care. The kids touched me. A lot. Often. There were quiet, whispered conversations. They were excited to see me and I loved being with them. (We don't have photos of my friendship with my classmates, because we are careful to respect the privacy of others. We don't post photos of other people, unless we have asked their permission.) And, I learned! I learned to look. I learned to focus. I learned to recognise what I was seeing. Often, the work on the big whiteboard was copied on to a smaller board, to help me see it. My writing is much better. I still need a pencil to be placed in my hand and I have special grips that help me hold the pencil. But, I hold on so much better, now. And, when someone helps me write, it is so much easier. My teachers worked on this with me, every day. If I am interested in what is being written, my hand is nice and loose and the writing is easy. (I do need help to form the letters.) If I am not interested in what I am writing, my hand is tighter and the writing is messy. Sometimes, it was hard for me to decide what I wanted to write stories about. Mostly, this was because I am non-verbal, so I cannot express an opinion. (Of all my disabilities, this is the hardest. It's also the scariest.) I am learning to use a communication board, to help show what I would like to do, so hopefully, I will get better at writing. I love stories! I love the funny ones and the ones that need the reader to use funny voices! We are hoping we might get some home readers in a computer version, to help me with the reading. Mum read my home reader to me, almost every night. I love maths, too! That might be my favourite! One thing I didn't really like, was news. I love people and kids and animals and noise... but, I am a bit shy when it is my turn in front of the class. My news was done on an ipad, using a cool app. I would press my communication switch button for each piece of my news to be read by the computer's voice. I went on lots of excursions and enjoyed the school's Color Run and dress up days. I went to the sports carnival (and, my teacher helped me win one of the races!). And, so many friends invited me to their parties. I did chuck a couple of sickies, convincing the teachers I was sick. But, Mum got me in trouble for that. She said school is important and learning is important and I have to be good. My teacher and my support teachers were incredibly supportive. They were very open with Mum and Dad and always accepted any advice they offered. They didn't mind the grown ups being there, each morning (because I have to be pushed to class and lifted out of my wheelchair and into my high low chair, ready for learning.) They didn't even mind the noisy sisters being around. There was such a positive atmosphere. Everyone assumed I would learn. They believed in me. They expected me to listen and to learn and to try. And, so... I did. Mum and Dad were so proud of me. They were so happy when I got my big certificate (for earning three certificates during the year). And then, when they got the letter to say I was getting an end of year Excellence Award, they were so, so excited. When my name was called out, and my teacher said I brought out the best in everyone, Mum had tears in her eyes. When the whole assembly hall burst in to loud applause for me, those tears ran down her face. And, I was so proud. On my last school morning, I woke at 4am. I was so excited. I called out to Mum. She has a monitor, right by her ear, in case I need help during the night. I know she heard me, but she refused to let me get up. I spent most of my last day of kindy with one of my best friends. I love her. When Mum came to get me, for my swimming lesson, I didn't want to leave school. (Sorry, Ron!) But, she made me go. Leaving school, that final day of Kindergarten, Mum had lots of emotions. She was relieved, because it had all worked out so well. She was proud, because I had shown that I can learn. She was grateful, for the time and effort and care I had been given. She was happy, because I had made so many friends. She was sad, because I won't have my awesome teacher next year. (But, we are sure I will have an awesome time with my next teacher.) And, she was a little nervous for the unknown of the next school year. I am so pleased Mum and Dad didn't listen to the people who refused to believe I could go to mainstream school. There were a lot of them and they were loud in their opinions. To all my classmates, teachers and school friends... Happy Holidays!! See you next year! #dextersreality #cerebralpalsy #school Eyegaze - Cracking Eggs
Glasses Brain Damage – Finding Out See the Cancer? They Want Octopus Arms Little Fingers Reaching Something to Say But No Words to Say It And Then, They Whispered about Me Open Letter Thanking Parents for the Parties I’m a Kindy Kid! 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 When I was still only a baby, someone told Mum she would not be able to send me to mainstream school. I had brain damage. She assumed I would not be able to learn. A midwife told Mum she should join a mum's group.... because, it would make the other mothers feel good. (Because their kid didn't have brain damage, maybe?) There have been a lot of comments, like that. As strong as we try to be, and as clever as I am, those comments leave little scars of memory. They stick with us. Well, yesterday, I finished my first year of mainstream school! I love school! I’m so glad Mum ignored that person, who told her I would never be able to go to mainstream school. Thanks to all my new friends and my teachers. I have had such a great time. I woke up at 4am, excited for my last day of Kindergarten and, I didn't want to leave, that afternoon. I will miss my friends and I will miss learning. I am excited to go to Year One, next year! Never give up. Never let the words of the doubters be louder than your beliefs. Shine. Read about my first day of Kindy here. #dextersreality #cerebralpalsy #school Answering Questions – Non Verbal
REMISSION When Your Heart Aches with Sadness Flying Fox Fun My Walking Goal What a Dollar means to Dexter When Wheelchair Stops Being a Dirty Word My Sister is Four Stuck in a Rut Embrace the Lion I’m a Kindy Kid! 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 Dexter's mum hurt her fingers, earlier this week. She slammed her index finger and thumb in the car door. For a moment, we thought she'd broken something, but she was lucky. But still, for a couple of days, she had limited use of her hand. It was her right hand; her dominant hand. For most mums of six year olds, this might be a bit of a nuisance. For Dexter's mum, it was a bit more complicated. She had trouble mashing his lunch, recess and munch and crunch. Her bruised and swollen fingers made it difficult to prepare Dexter's food. Dressing him was impossible, without incredible pain. She couldn't put his shoes on, or tie the laces. Lifting him was challenging. Lifting his wheelchair into and out of the van was even more difficult. Transferring him from his wheelchair and doing up the straps on his high low chair proved very difficult. And, the seat belt? Too hard. Luckily, nothing was broken and, once the swelling went down, she could use her hand again. But, for a short while, she couldn't look after Dexter. And, this frightened her. Dexter will always need her. Us. His parents give him as much therapy as they can afford, to make him stronger and improve his stamina. But, Dexter will always need someone to tie his laces and do up his seat belt. Some days (many days), cerebral palsy breaks our hearts and makes us stress for the future. It scares us. #dextersreality #cerebralpalsy Having painful fingers really showed how many little things we do, each day. They Want Octopus Arms
Little Fingers Reaching Celebrating Courage Physical Toll of Cerebral Palsy Today, I Just Want To Be A Mum It Takes Energy to Stay Strong Out of the Mouths of Babes Mum’s Therapy Walking Until It Hurts 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 Aunty Carol and Mum have been busy sorting and writing on cards, ready to put the vouchers in. They already have a mixture of 26 vouchers, ready to be handed out, and will go shopping for around 40 more vouchers with the remaining money, on Monday! Every single person who has donated - You are amazing! Thank you! (We are collecting itunes/google play and movie vouchers. We will deliver them to the Wollongong Hospital Children's Ward, to be handed out to the teenagers who are spending Christmas in hospital. The younger kids usually get lots of presents but the older kids sometimes miss out. We are changing that! You can read more about it here.) REMISSION
Ron’s Rainbow Hair fundraiser Mum was Crying in the Ball Pit My Walking Goal What a Dollar means to Dexter I’m a Kindy Kid! 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 Yesterday, Mum did something she hates... She had a bit of a cry, in public...! But, they weren’t sad tears. They were PROUD tears! Today, I was given a Certificate of Excellence. There are only four of these awards given out, per class, at the end of the year. I got one! I was given the Citizenship Award. My teacher said I bring out the best in everyone. Mum, Dad & all my family are so proud. I have really loved school, this year and my teacher and my aides have been amazing. I like this school business! **Lots of people questioned the decision to send Dexter to a mainstream school. Many people doubted his ability to learn. Some people still disregard him. Dexter's incredibly determined! Looks like he's wanting to prove the doubters wrong. So proud of him and his huge efforts. My Walking Goal
What a Dollar means to Dexter When Wheelchair Stops Being a Dirty Word Stuck in a Rut Embrace the Lion I’m a Kindy Kid! 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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