Brodie is a SURVIVOR!
JMF is proud to announce Brodie as our second JMF Kids & Big Kids 4 Kids grant recipient for 2015.
Brodie is a beautiful and strong willed 13-year-old boy who relies on a wheelchair for day-to-day mobility and still regularly undergoes treatment and surgeries at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne.
Brodie has cerebral palsy which was caused by abuse, horrible shaking by his mother, when he was less than a year old.
What a smile this gorgeous boy has. He continues to fight every day to be as included and interactive in everyday life as he can possible be and continues to defy all the odds.
Brodie lives with his grandparents who have dedicated their lives to caring for him. JMF first met him when he was six years old. The Foundation has granted over $20,000 in support for Brodie and his inspirational grandparents. The grants we have been able to provide have assisted with a wheelchair car modification, a new trike that at the time helped to build leg strength and provide some independence. We also have provided an accessible computer with a touch monitor that Brodie worked by touching the monitor instead of the keyboard and mouse.
Brodie has defied the odds all of his life and continues to push the boundaries on a daily basis. He has exceeded his reading goals and is considered to be top of his class and quite often will read a story to the whole class, he absolutely loves all of his books that he has and often stays in bed a bit longer on the weekend to read them.
He also loves his touch screen computer and his iPad and has a great love for music especially Michael Jackson. He sings with his Carers while he is in the shower and this is how they get him to do some of his exercises.
Brodie can write a little and is always challenging himself with new words to spell. He can correctly identify time to the hour and independently read the time on a digital clock and also analogue.
Brodie is one smart little boy especially as he has only got half a brain as a result of the horrific shaking that he endured as a baby.
As Brodie grows, his needs become more complex and it becomes a little more challenging to create a safe environment in the bathroom for him to be bathed. JMF is so happy to be contributing to bathroom modifications that will make it a safer and more enjoyable environment for Brodie to bathe in. Without the modifications he would no longer be able to be showered at home as it is too hard for the Carers.
This grant will ensure Brodie can remain at home and make a much safer and more independent environment for him to be bathed in.
We look forward to continuing to support Brodie and his grandparents and have no doubt he will continue to defy the odds.
This is Brodie in the All Abilities Swing in Bairnsdale which he visits on most weekends. He just loves the swing.
If you would like to support JMF Kids & Big Kids 4 Kids please donate today so we continue to help Brodie and his grandparents into the future.
