February - 2016

Another whirlwind week for Will

Another whirlwind week for Will. The combination of media attention and a new infection seems to go hand in hand at the moment. Infection has become such a “norm” in Will’s new world that you stop questioning the “how" and the “why" and just accept a new course of antibiotics, more tests and visits from infectious control. Will never does anything in a half-baked way, so he’s managed to contract every “non typical” bug going around. Really hoping he finds a “non typical” leve

The week that was!

Anyone who has had the hots for Hugh Grant or Julia Roberts along the way (a large number I suspect…) may well recall the scene in Notting Hill where a group of men on the next table are talking quite unfavourably about Roberts’ character, before Grant and then Roberts confront the then speechless men about what they have just heard. For a bloke scared of suspense on my screen (I generally change channels), I love that stuff in films. How about Russell Crowe in Gladiator when

Navigating through the many emotions

When Will was in ICU the social worker, or psychologist or nurse… or whoever was comforting me at the time (there were many people trying to hold me up) suggested that I write a diary each day and that way I can see the wins in a situation that seems unwinable (they weren’t her words but I think I’ve said it more succinctly!). Writing is cathartic for me, so I’ve found - but I don’t have the capacity to write things twice. I haven’t worked out how I find the time to write on

Send your energy from afar...

How do you describe the week we've had? To know that a group of our friends from the community have all banded together to help raise funds to ensure Will has the best possible quality of life is truly humbling... Then to have the media jump on board and spread their call to action is beyond words. Our entire family is eternally grateful and we all sleep a little bit easier knowing we have this support. But I want to be true to this page now, and honor the fact that this is a

"In a gentle way, you can shake the world"

The support in recent days and weeks from some of the world’s biggest sporting stars has been mind-blowing. To see Will’s beaming smile on national news, in print media and on Twitter has been as inspiring as it has been emotional. The passion with which Eddie McGuire and Luke Darcy described Will’s battle on Triple M on Tuesday morning reminded us all that behind the flurry of microphones and cameras, two of Australia’s most well-known broadcasters are nothing more than prou

Adjusting to change

I just spent the good part of this afternoon and this evening trying to piece together why I find it so much more difficult to comprehend what is going on when I am at home versus when I'm at the hospital, looking at Will, with his past and his future right there staring me in the face. I spent this afternoon with my 5 year old and an 8 year old doing very typical Saturday afternoon, little kid stuff... we watered the garden, rode scooters round the backyard, blew bubbles and

Not forgetting school work!

Yesterday was all about education for Will... His favourite primary school teacher, Beryl Tardrew (in the pic with Will), came to see him. Then his favourite secondary school teacher, Tim Marshall, came to see him - then his new RCH teacher, Barb, came to see him. Rest assured Will hasn't lost his ability to roll his eyes as he gave Barb a ripper look when she announced that it was time for him to resume his school work!

Being at peace with what's happening

So yes, I teach mindfulness, but I should tell you that in every course I’ve ever done and every meditation retreat I’ve ever been on well I’m the most resistant in the group (not to mention the only person that can NOT sit cross legged when they meditate and always fidgets and itches and coughs!). Every profound point the teacher makes I am the one that struggles the most to make sense of it. I pass it through my “bullshit filter” and then I ponder on how it can apply to my