Fighting Chance blog 21

Fighting Chance sibling testimonials

Northcott is a disability recreation service which runs SibCamps, a camp for the siblings of people with disabilities so that they can bond and share experiences. In the spirit of this, this year to mark 2014′s Cerebral Palsy Awareness week we’ve compiled some of our favourite sibling stories:

I love my sister; she looks after me when my parents are away, she makes delicious deserts, she takes beautifully skilled photographs, and she’s my sister. I enjoy seeing her every Sunday for dinner.

Christopher Allerdice, Fighting Chance intern. 

When my brother Andrew and I were young we loved to entertain our family at any event. We loved to sing and make up songs; we loved it so much my aunty bought us a Hi-5 microphone and speaker.

I will never forget the time when Andrew was sitting on the couch with a guitar and he started singing to Pete Murray his favourite singer at the time he knew every word. The whole family was singing along and having fun. Then it was time for me and Andrew to sing together everyone was in a circle with the stage in the middle, our Hi-5 microphones set up with their speakers. Then we started to sing a Hi-5 song and it was so much fun I remember when Andrew and I were singing together and getting along. Although we fight every minute of the day I still love him so much and could not ask for a better brother if I tried.

Lie Sintras, Fighting Chance work experience.

One of the best times was with my brother Jay and mum, doing the City2surf with me and my wheelchair broke down half way up on Heartbreak Hill and my brother had to push my chair all the way from there.

Thank God for my brother Jay being there to help push. It was working going downhill. I was happy we finished the City2Surf.

Brianna Heaton, Fighting Chance intern.

 My youngest sister Mia always had a unique and entertaining way of expressing her understanding of my disability. Here are some of my favourite quotes starting from when she was 3:

“God is very naughty, why did he make you not walk? I’m gonna call the police and ask them to take him to jail.”

One short year down the track Mia, thinking I was “adopted” instead of born with CP came up with this gem:

- Me: “Mia, why do you think God made me ‘disabled’?”

- Mia: “God made you disabled and said: ‘Who wants this girl? She’s disabled’ and Mummy and Daddy said ‘We’ll have her.’

Obviously this is not the case but her heart was in the right place, and life is never dull with her around, she’s always keeping me on my toes. Even now at 11 years old I never know what witty remark she will come up with next.

Maria Makhoul, Fighting Chance blog writer. 

Whist I wouldn’t have it any other way, my heart goes out to those whom have a more severe form of CP than I, and who find it more difficult to rise above their condition. My hope is that Cerebral Palsy Awareness Week will help to inform people of the challenges and make it a little easier for all those whose lives are affected by CP.