3rd July 2015

Nothing much has been happening and now it is all happening at a great rate! Getting out and about We have been getting out and about- Doncaster for shopping and lunch (Thanks Pete); the movies at Doncaster 3 times, including lunch- thanks Steve and Belinda (and our boys) ; Heidelberg (thanks Deb and Pete) and the basketball (Thanks Linda and Andrea) as well as a couple of lunches at home. It might not sound like much but it is far better than hanging around the hospital. Every day we make the trek downstairs to the cafeteria for a change of scene and we can often be found just hanging out in the hospital foyer. Being so cold it’s a bit tricky to spend much time outside so we have chosen mainly indoor activities and outings. Except for our adventure on the train to Fairfield for lunch when the Antarctic breeze was blowing and yes, we got wet on the way home. Needless to say we haven’t ventured back there yet. We have also started making a training video with the Speech Pathology team at the Austin which will feature Gerard. (thanks Gary) The working bee at our place was sensational again. Thanks you so much to everyone who came. The weeds are all dying off nicely and the back yard is looking great. Gerard very much enjoyed lunch at home with those that were still here when we finally got him home. We are still dodging trucks, diggers and holes as they continue the sewerage works out the front. The best news – I think. We have been waiting to hear from around 6 months as to whether Gerard can go to VASS (Ventilator Assisted Support Services) to live in Thornbury. DHHS thought Aged care was a better option since he is now 65 and Aged Care said that they couldn’t look after him (Shortened version of the story) With lots of tooing and froing, assistance from Rita our social worker, Jenny Macklin (M.P. JagaJaga) and Ryan Smith (M.P. Warrandyte), Gerard was finally registered on the Disability Support register 2 weeks ago and on Monday this week was offered permanent residence at VASS. Next Monday he will go over for his first visit to meet some of the other occupants and will have a choice as to which house he would like to live in. (there are 4 on the block and 2 with vacancies) Then it will be more meetings (they have already started) and paperwork, staff training and handovers over the next 4 weeks or so until he moves. In the meantime we have also received some Job Access funding which has allowed us to order Eye tech and a large monitor and stand so that he can set himself up to do some more work (the next article in Faculty is almost ready to be published) and, with all of our previous community support (thanks everyone), we now start buying everything that Gerard will need when he is living in the community. We also have the opportunity also to purchase a second hand modified version which will make getting out and about a lot easier and less time consuming. So, new adventures ahead for the Stevenson’s who would all very much like to be living under the one roof. Max and Zac are continuing to work on Year 12 and I fit in running our business around meetings at the hospital and visits with Gerard. Hope all those who have holidays are enjoying them. Look forward to catching up soon Sue Gerard Max and Zac PS when we know Gerard’s moving date and new address, we will let you know