Our Families

Team Holgate

Description

My Name is Madison and I am a 10 year old girl living in Brisbane, Australia. When I was born I was quite small, I weighed only 680 grams, meaning my first 4 months were spent in the intensive care unit in hospital. Just after my 1st birthday I was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and have been working really hard ever since then to do as much for myself as I can. Today I am really enjoying going to school and learning lots with all the other kids but mum and dad say that if I hadn't started having therapy when I was only 14 months old things might be a lot different. There have been a lot of really special people that have helped me achieve what I have today. Mum and Dad said when I was diagnosed with CP the doctors didn’t expect me to be ale to talk or do very much at all but with a lot of help and determination I am now at a really good school at Macgregor just like all the other kids. We have a special education unit there that helps out a lot but I spend most of my time in class with my teacher and all my friends.

I would really like to be able to walk by myself one day and not have to rely on a wheelchair to get around all the time. I'd also like to be able to do more things for myself and try lots of new things that are a little hard for me now. I hope one day that I will be able to do anything I want.

I am growing quickly at the moment and, while I’ll never be a giant, I have to keep doing lots of exercise, stretching and therapy to keep my muscles growing and getting stronger. If I don’t I’m not going to be able to do all the things other people do when I get older. I really want to be able to walk one day and do everything for myself so I have try extra hard at the moment but this all costs lots of money. The more money I can raise the more progress I am going to be able to make because I can spend more time doing the things below:

• Physiotherapy & Gym -Both of these are really hard work but I am getting stronger by doing them. My gym program is designed and run by my physio and concentrates on building my strength and flexibility.

• Horse riding – I really love riding which is just as well I guess because its also hard work staying up straight. I have a few people helping me stay on the horse and mum says it is helping me build up my strength and balance at the same time as stretching the important muscles to help me walk.

• Swimming – I now go to the same pool for swimming lessons as my sister. She’s still a bit faster than me and goes to swimming club, one day I might be a good enough swimmer to join swimming club you never know I might just beat her.

• Orthotic boots – I’m not too fond of my AFO boots but they’re important to get my feet growing in the right way and as my feet grow they cost more and more.

• Home Modifications – I’d really like to be able to go in and out the door at home without having to get someone to help me all the time.

• Equipment – The heavier I get the more equipment I am going to need. I’ve just got a new manual wheelchair which the money from the last Riverwalk helped pay for but I’ll grow out of this one day and I am going to need a new seat on my electric chair shortly too.

How you can help me to reach my dreams

•Donate

•Send this page to your family and friends asking them to donate

•Volunteer your time to help my family with respite, chores or day to day tasks

For more information on helping or if you have a question for my family please email maddierh@optusnet.com.au