Caring can be a wonderful experience, but it can also be isolating and lonely.  We hope you will find our stories about other New Zealand carers uplifting and inspiring, and help you feel part of the large community of 420,000+ carers!  Many of these stories are from past issues of Family Care magazine.  To request a subscription to our quarterly magazine, delivered directly to your home, phone (0800) 777 797, email sara@carers.net.nz, or read more at our Family Care section at the website!

Walking the Line

The 9 ½ year old loves everything to do with country singer Johnny Cash, especially the song and movie Walk the Line.

Troy even named his fox terrier Cash, and has two cats called June and Johnny.

The family's relaxed country lifestyle was carefully planned by Kary and Mark Robertson after Troy's traumatic birth and diagnosis of cerebral palsy.

Mark, a detective sergeant, heads the Kaitaia Police CIB unit, while Kary oversees the family's riding school.

Kary is also a hairdresser, and when she's not brushing and grooming the horses, she can often be found giving customers haircuts and perms in the family's open plan four bedroom home!

The Robertsons own a number of horses, whose placid natures make them ideal companions for the riding school's young students.

Over the summer holidays, the Robertsons close the school and travel around the country.

Mark, Kary and Troy all compete in rodeos and equestrian events.

Their lifestyle block, which includes an all-weather dressage area and rodeo arena, is on the flat ... perfect terrain for Troy's electric wheelchair.

"He can drive right up to the horses and groom them," says Kary. "Troy is able to hold the brush between two fingers, and has become very adept at using it."

Troy rides his pony, Beautiful, using a saddle designed for him by Whangarei saddle maker Luke Robinson.

The back of Troy's removable wheelchair seat clicks into his saddle so he can be strapped into position, providing the stability for Troy to sit on Beautiful unaided.

"Technically it's not the done thing to do to strap a child into a saddle, but Troy wants to ride horses, so we had to find a way to help him be independent," says Kary.

Luke would not accept payment for the saddle, a generous gift for Troy, who loves being able to ride on his own.

The saddle keeps Troy safe while Mark or Kary tether Beautiful to their horse using a rope.

The family can then enjoy leisurely rides together.

Troy also rides steers and competes on the rodeo circuit with Mark's help. For Kary, being with Troy and working from home are a package deal.

"He is the biggest part of my life and I involve him in everything I do," she says. "The first thing that happens with new clients is an introduction to Troy."

"So far, the only problem I've had is explaining to the other children why they can't have a turn in Troy's wheelchair!"

Kary says it wouldn't be possible to work from home if Troy didn't enjoy the interaction with clients, or if clients didn't understand that Troy's welfare is Kary's top priority.

Each morning, Kary drives Troy a short distance up the road to Kaingaroa School, where he is in a mainstream class and has the help of a full-time teacher aide. Troy also has home help after school for three hours a day most weekdays.

Troy does his school work on a specially adapted computer. At home, in addition to his electric wheelchair, he uses a Hart Walker, which allows him to walk upright for short periods.

The Robertsons bought the walker with assistance from their local Lions club; it has greatly enhanced Troy's independence.

Kary says Troy is very involved in the riding school.

"He gets home from school and straightaway joins in with the children, ponies and parents, who are all his friends. Riding is excellent for his muscles and for his self esteem."

Kary gets her energy from the smell of leather and being outdoors with the horses. Mark helps out whenever he can, lighting the fire and preparing the evening meal while Kary finishes grooming and feeding the horses.

Before Troy was born, Kary had a hairdressing business in town. She sold the salon to be with Troy full-time. The riding school "just happened", she says.

"Several Mums asked if I could give their daughters riding lessons. The facilities were already here, so we built on it, and within six months were operating the riding school. I've had clients right from the start."

Students learn how to catch and saddle a horse, and the techniques of rodeo, dressage, and barrel riding. They also have opportunities for trekking along the peaceful country paths, or special treks on nearby 90 Mile Beach.

Despite the wet Northland winter, Kary's riding school is still very successful. It's now into its fifth year!

Kary used to be a show jumper, but Mark and Troy's shared love of rodeo prompted a switch to buying rodeo horses.

The Robertsons have since added a rodeo arena to their riding school.

Every Boxing Day the family heads off in a converted truck to compete on New Zealand's rodeo circuit - all the way to Stewart Island and back again! Mark competes in steer wrestling events, and Kary ranks sixth on the national barrel racing standings. Troy is their number one supporter.

"He rides around the arena in his cowboy outfit and has been practising his bull dogging so he can compete himself this summer," Kary says.

While Kary and Mark love living in a rural area, Troy's regular health and dental checks require regular trips to Whangarei is a 200 kilometre drive away.

Kary and Mark try to combine any medical appointments with other business so the trip is worthwhile. Kary says she spends about one week per school term travelling to and from Whangarei.

"We have to use our van because the local hospital bus isn't equipped to take a wheelchair."

This doesn't phase Kary though. "You just have to keep your sense of humour!" she laughs.


INDEPENDENCE AND QUALITY OF LIFE

Genny Hanning saw a Hart Walker for the first time at Sydney's Spastic Centre, while visiting with her husband (a Lions Club International Director).

"I was inspired and motivated to see children demonstrating the use of their Hart Walkers," she says.

The Hart Walker allows children with moderate to severe physical disabilities, especially those with cerebral palsy, to stand and experience ‘hands free' walking.

Genny says at the time of her visits to the Spastic Centre, a few children in the North Island were already using Hart Walkers.

These had mainly been funded by their families, with contributions in some cases from their local Lions Club.

"Back then I was the principal of Sacred Heart School in Dunedin, and had mainstreamed children with cerebral palsy."

"I wanted them to have the opportunity to access this wonderful equipment!"

The Lions of her district agreed to support the establishment of Hart Walker Clinics in Dunedin, with an outpost in Christchurch. Then the Sydney team (physiotherapist Sue Bailey, orthotist Stuart Kerr, and Peter Fortune) travelled to Dunedin to provide initial specialist support.

Later they trained teams for the South Island clinics, and still lend their professional support to the Auckland and Wellington clinics, she says.

The first South Island Hart Walker Clinic was held at Genny's school.

"Some of the children fitted for a Hart Walker then are now in their teens, and still attend clinics for adjustments to their walkers and to receive professional advice!"

In 2000 Genny was invited to speak at a Lions convention about the children at her school who were using a Hart Walker, and experiencing improved quality of life.

Lions were asked to consider the needs of children with cerebral palsy in their communities, and passed a remit that day to adopt Hart Walkers as a Multiple District Project.

In 2001 Genny became a Lion herself, and has been involved with her district's Hart Walker Clinics since 2004.

Last year she took up her role as Lions' Hart Walker National Project Coordinator.

"I continue to be inspired by the children and their families and am passionate about the difference the Hart Walker can make," she says. Children are assessed by specially trained physiotherapists
to see if a Hart Walker is suitable for them.

If so, Genny seeks funding support for the equipment from the Lions club in the child's region.

Each Lions area organises support to purchase a Hart Walker in its own way.

Most Clubs fully fund the equipment, while others ask families to make a contribution.

Families are also asked to help with fundraising activities if possible.

The cost of each Hart Walker is $9850, which covers the equipment and shipment from overseas. It also covers the first pair of Hart Walker boots, and clinic fees for the year.

A heavy duty Hart Walker is now available at the same cost for older Hart Walker recipients.

Using a Hart Walker can bring marked improvements in the general health of users.

Children can move more independently, their social skills are enhanced, and they are able to experience hands free involvement in indoor class activities and outdoors in the playground.

Relationships with peers are also natural and normal as children can engage with each other ‘eye to eye'.

Staff at a local hospital were amazed when one boy attending a recent clinic demonstrated his mobility using an ordinary walker, then with his Hart Walker.

"With the ordinary device he had to stand and wait for someone to move him, but he could move independently with his Hart Walker," Genny says.

"Using this device can make a huge difference to a child's mobility and quality of life."

 



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