With two physically disabled children, Lasini’s life is extremely busy. Thankfully, several grants from the Wilson Home Trust have helped ‘lighten her load’ and means her children can join in on family outings.
3-year-old Otokawa has Septo-optic Dysplasia (SOD), a congenital disorder that causes vision and hearing issues as well as global developmental delays.
Otokawa is one of five children and his little sister, Alice (aged one), also has the same condition. As you can imagine, that makes life very busy for their Mum, Lasini.
“Otokawa can’t walk yet, so the number one challenge of daily life is that I have to carry him around,” explains Lasini. “He’s three years old and getting a bit heavier now. I also need to carry his sister, and it’s difficult to manage them both at once.”
The family love to get outdoors in nature and go hiking or biking – made possible by three different equipment & activities grants from the Wilson Home Trust – for a double trailer, a toddler backpack and, most recently, a bike for Otokawa.
“Otokawa’s three older siblings all love biking,” says Lasini. “Our family is always touring around Auckland, thanks to the grant for the double trailer. He’s big enough for his own bike now, but his paralysis means he can’t hold his body up, so it was a real struggle to find a bike that would work for him.”
The grant meant they could purchase a specially adapted bike that fitted their needs. “We found a bike that was perfect. And a lot cheaper than other bikes we’d looked at. Otokawa loves it!” enthuses Lasini.
Connecting with nature – and each other
“Man, ever since we’ve had the bike and the backpack too, it’s been amazing,” she says. “It’s such a blessing for the kids to get outdoors and enjoy life. Their faces light up, being able to be out in both summer and winter time, it’s just great!”
“The carrier we have connects to the bike, and it also becomes a double pram stroller. It means we can walk everywhere – the kids love being inside the stroller. It’s so much fun for them to look out and see dogs and nature – for both of them, it’s been easier for them to see life that way.”
For other parents in a similar situation, Lasini has this advice. “When you’re a family with a disability, you don’t always realise that help is available. Because we’re so stuck in the day to day, we don’t often have the time. My best advice, is to figure out what gives your child finds joy and then look for the things that help them best do the things that other kids can.”
“Despite their conditions, for them to able to enjoy nature just like my other kids has been amazing,” she says. “The grants have been such a blessing.”
A grant towards equipment that enables them to get outdoors can transform the lives of children with physical disabilities. If you’d like to help us fund more grants, please make a donation today.
