Our Families

Team Naz

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Description

“Helping Naz become all that he can be”

Naz’s Story

Hi my name is Nazareth but you can call me Naz. I live with my mum Leah, dad Marty and two brothers Kadison and Lennox. I also have a sister Nikita and she lives in New Zealand. My family always tell me I am a special little boy and I’ve taught them so many things like; being strong, determination, never giving up, loving unconditionally and greeting everyday with a smile! I am an easy going little chap with a smile that lights up the room and a good sense of humour. I like going for walks, going to the park, the Wiggles, being tickled, playing wrestling with my Dad and brothers and Skyping my Nan and sister in NZ.

When I arrived in this world, I had to fight very hard to stay here as I suffered a brain injury through lack of oxygen at birth and had to be put on a machine to help me breathe. As a result, I have cerebral palsy - spastic quadriplegia; which means all my limbs are affected from my head to my toes. I can’t talk, sit independently or walk and I have to be fed through a tube in my stomach.

Although life is sometimes challenging for me and my family, I am a very busy little boy and have lots of things going on. I go to Musgrave Special Education Unit Playgroup twice a week, I have just started Xavier Conductive Education Programme in Brisbane where I work hard at trying to do different things with my body and I also go to Musgrave Community Childcare Centre one day a week. I really like hanging out with my friends and doing things like; play dough, painting, music, playing with sand and drawing pictures. As well, I also have speech therapy, physiotherapy and my Mum & Dad do special exercises with me everyday to help strengthen my body and to help me use my body in the best way that I can.

Naz’s Achievements:

With all the exercises and therapy I have been doing and my sheer determination, I have achieved some big things in my 3 years – I can now roll myself around the house, I can get up on to all fours and balance for a little while, I have started pulling my upper body up on to the couch and I have even managed to pull myself up to a standing position in my cot. You should have seen my Mum & Dad’s faces when I pulled this one out of the hat!!! My big dream is to be able to do things all on my own one day.

Naz’s Needs:

As I grow bigger, I need more and more special equipment to help me do everyday things. I need a walker to practice my stepping and help strengthen my legs, a hi-low electrical bed which will help mum and dad get me out of bed without putting their backs out and when it’s at floor level I can even try and roll off myself, a new potty/shower chair as I’m in the process of trying to become potty trained [even though I don't like it!!!!], a special body suit to help keep my body more stable and some proper seating for when I’m at home chilling and watching TV.

We know my journey is going to be a marathon rather than a sprint, but with your help and support, my Mum & Dad will be able to continue to provide me with the therapy and special equipment I need. It is widely recognised that early intervention will give me the best chance to become as independent as possible, so these young years are especially important for me. Please help me to live my dream and become all that I can be.

Any support you are able to offer is very much appreciated as it all helps and will go towards making a big difference in my life. For more information on helping out or if you have a question for Team Naz please email my mum Leah at leahandmarty@myacn.net.au or phone her on 0450007981.

How you can help

Any support you are able to offer is very much appreciated.

• Donate online

• Send Naz’s web page to your family and friends

• Help us raise sponsorship for Team Naz at the Annual Riverwalk event. You can read about the event at http://www.developingfoundation.org.au/help-give-raise-funds/riverwalk and we’ll update you through the Nazareth Support Group on Facebook.

All donations of $2 or more are tax deductible and you will not receive any additional credit card charges. The Developing Foundation commits 90% of our target directly to Naz’s expenses. The balance is used by the charity to cover administration and credit expenses.

Thank you so much for your support and helping Naz become all that he can be.