Paradise Kids

In May 2004 our whole family’s future changed. The good, the bad and the ugly. Test after test, doctor after doctor. Living only day by day, sometimes hour by hour. Two years without a diagnosis and then Jonny was found to have Pallister-Killian syndrome and the only support for him/us was in California. There is no known cure and Jonny has severe disabilities.

Caged at home, due to the medical needs of Jonny. Watching my family fall apart – trouble at school for Miranda my then 12 year old and Charlotte my 5 year old was suffering nightmares and fears of being alone. My partner, Shane, and I had absolutely no time for each other due to work and Jonny’s schedule and medical needs and of course fear. There didn’t seem to be the room for communication, consideration or general appreciation for our lives – or Jonny’s.

Then DSQ linked us up with the Paradise Kids Illness Support Program and Lizzi and her team began changing and transforming the Wiseman family. Deidre Hanna, the founder of PK, helped to unite our whole family in matrimony and has also offered to honour Jonny at his farewell. We are still on our journey and thanks to Lizzi’s team of tireless volunteers, which for us include Lizzi, Dina, Geoff, John and Deidre, we feel a lot safer in this unknown future of ours.

Miranda is now 13 and has entered High School with great confidence thanks to the Teenager’s Group and milkshakes with Lizzi. Charlotte, now 6, has Geoff playing all sorts of wonderful games and feels completely safe to share and express her feelings, such as anger and sadness. Shane has begun his very own Reiki journey thanks to Lizzi and John. I have weekly counselling at my home with Dina who supports me to be the best me I can be. Dina you are beautiful and amazing – thank you.

With such conflicting thoughts on my own child’s disabilities and then a shortened life expectancy, as a mum I didn’t know how to let my boy go with the pride and dignity we wanted for him from birth. Paradise Kids Illness Support Program is continuing to succeed with our family as we now embrace Jonny’s time with us and his future freedom with grace and love.

Kylie Wiseman