Minda’s changed our lives

36 year old Warwick lives at Minda’s central Brighton site. He’s resided with Minda for almost 20 years and has worked at Trak Furniture for the past two years, having worked at Minda’s Packaging Solutions for 15 years.

Warwick has a full social calendar, playing basketball through Minda’s Leisure Options, attends Tutti Choir and every Thursday night, participates in Social Club.

A happy and sociable person, Warwick is a much loved, familiar face in the local community, known for his fondness of trains, riding his beloved bike, catching the bus, and dancing to the bagpipes or John Farnham music.

Despite Warwick’s active life and positive outlook, his parents Geoff and Judy once feared he may not be able to look forward to such a fulfilling life.

The odds were against Warwick from birth; he was blue when he was delivered as a result of his umbilical cord being wrapped around his neck twice. Doctors told Warwick’s parents their second born was fortunate to survive the ordeal and he'd be perfectly fine.

Intellectual disability was the last thing on the minds of the second-time parents when they left hospital. But it wasn’t long before Judy felt (as mums so often do) that something wasn’t quite right.

“Warwick was the most gorgeous baby – a delight. But I had a niggling feeling that something was amiss. He had poor muscle tone and couldn’t move around much – he couldn’t roll or sit up,” Judy recalls.

Warwick’s development continued to experience delays. “It was picked up at a check-up with the local nurse…Warwick was just seven months old when he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy.”

Although Warwick’s cerebral palsy was classified as mild, he didn’t walk until he was over five years of age, and didn’t talk until he turned six. He was also prone to frequent aggressive outbursts and tantrums as a child and teenager – which took an incredible emotional and physical toll on his doting parents.

Shockingly, upon learning of their child’s disability, parents are often advised they have a 70% chance of divorce – the Smith’s beat the odds. They have been married for 43 years, although they admit their relationship has been strained at times.

Warwick was 12 years old when Judy secured respite for him at Minda. “After years of tantrums, smashed crockery and turned over furniture, I had reached my limit.

“For me, respite was the only salvation, but Geoff was not ready and completely disagreed. It caused a lot of tension between us but I just had to do it,” Judy said.

Like most mums and dads in this position, Geoff felt “gutted” and guilt-ridden at the thought of placing Warwick in care. Judy was also experiencing the same feelings, but as Warwick’s primary care giver, she knew for the sake of their relationship and also their relationship with their other child, they needed help.

“While it was just a weekend here and there, we took what we could get and it was truly a turning point for our family. I finally had time for Geoff and Morgan,” Judy said.

Parents like Judy and Geoff simply couldn’t get through without the services Minda provides. Following years of respite, the Smith’s were offered full time accommodation for Warwick around his 18th birthday.

Again they found themselves at odds, but Judy knew it was the right time for Warwick to move to Minda full-time. “It was such a monumental change and a very difficult time. You feel guilty on the one hand, but on the other, you know it’s the best thing for everyone,” Judy said.

Geoff and Judy said the first six months were the most difficult but with time, they adjusted. They were able to reconnect with friends who they’d lost touch with over the years, they were able to eat dinner together. But most importantly, for the first time they were excited about what the future held for Warwick.

Judy says that with Minda, they haven’t looked back: “Minda’s changed our lives. We’ve been able to live again and not worry about who will look after our son years down the track.”

“It’s been a remarkable journey, what we’ve been through, Warwick’s progress – it has been amazing. We’re so proud of him and the lovely, polite man he’s grown into. He’s confident in life, he’s happy. That’s the greatest joy of all.”