Wed 11 Oct Turning 15

Final stylised publicity photograph of Jesse's "Pod"

Today Elise and Shannon went to the hospital and amongst other treatments had the burn on her foot dressed. The assessment was that it is now up to the stage of treating the burn as a normal wound and the special ointments and dressings are no longer needed. That means swimming and other activities can resume. Wonderful news indeed.

A huge amount of healing has occurred now - looks worse than it really is

Last week we had a few days holiday at our beach house on the Mornington Peninsula. Elise turned 15 years old while we were away - this was daunting as it was her first birthday in a wheelchair, potentially a very sad time. She was amazingly brave and really tried to enjoy herself...and succeeded.

We made it down onto the Blairgowrie front beach with the wheelchair one dreamy weather day and a kind man loaned us his plastic two-seat kayak. We had a paddle with Elise and Poppy, a highlight. Subsequently, Shannon has contacted the Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron, they run a Sailability program which includes access for wheelchair users...something to try out over the holidays for the small price of a gold coin donation (until you join the club then we mortgage the car ;-) They use small and very stable 303 yachts which apparently you can't flip, very reassuring. I rather fancy the idea of peacefully tacking on the calm waters of the bay.

Shannon and I managed to get her wheelchair to the clifftop on sunset - not something to repeat in her wheelchair as she needs something more off-road which we are looking into

The off-road wheels performed perfectly on the dirt and sand bush track of Blairgowrie.

Enjoying a special birthday lunch at Pelikan Société Hastings

Elise preparing strawberries for breakfast in the warm sun.

Braving mosquitoes on our birthday bush walk near the Mangrove swamps.

Video link of the boardwalk at Bittern including a GPS sound update proving that we're serious bush-walkers ;-)
https://photos.app.goo.gl/kT9TLpAewrkvMFJ63

NDIS planning is underway, Shannon is knee deep in paperwork, reports, quotes etc. NDIS opens in November and Elise has been accepted for early enrollment so we need to get everything ready. This is quite a big deal as House Modifications are needed, things like Vehicle mods (for when she can drive) need to be included, therapy costs, replacement wheelchairs, etc. It is a long list. It astounds me that we live in an amazing country than is so welfare focussed... "looking after the fatherless and widows," we are very blessed.

Slightly embarrassing link of birthday cake video below.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/fPZVppv5Rob9oSvQ2