Veronika’s Therapists had recommended that Veronika needed a Second Skin.

http://www.secondskin.com.au/

A funding application was made to Cerebral Palsy Tasmania, and they granted her application to pay for her Second Skin *insert Happy Dance from Me, to Cerebral Palsy Tas* in December last year.

The lovely staff at Second Skin said, if we could get Veronika to Second Skin in Sydney in early February, for an assessment and for measurements to be taken, then they would custom make her suit, and bring it to Hobart for us to have a fitting in March. Otherwise we would have to wait to March for the assessment and measurements, and would then have a fitting in May.

Me being me, decided that the 1st options would be much better. After all the funding for the suit was approved, and its something that I believe(along with her Physio and Occupational Therapist) will give Veronika better use of her left leg, because it will help with the stability of her pelvis. As well as better use of her left arm, because her core stability will be improved, helping her shoulder to become more stable, which should have the flow on effect to her arm and hand. So why wait another 2 months, when we could continue the ball rolling.

I made a phone call to see if we could get a hand to get to Sydney, as it was something Patient Transport weren’t able to cover, and we really couldn’t afford it. So I completely stepped out of my comfort zone and did something I never would have done before I had Veronika. I called Glen, who I had met last year at a fundraiser for Veronika’s best friend Willow. Glen works for TasPorts in Hobart, and they generously offered to fly Veronika and myself to Sydney for her appointment.*insert another Happy Dance*

http://www.tasports.com.au/

Waiting for the Plane…

Veronika loved the 2 plane’s we went on up to Sydney(we had to change planes in Melbourne).  As soon as we landed Veronika was signing ‘more’, before she waved  and blew kisses to everyone that was getting off the plane, while we were waiting for her wheelchair to come to the plane so I didn’t have to carry her!

Veronika’s Second Skin appointment was Tuesday at 10am. The ladies at Second Skin are just lovely. The therapist that we saw had some fantastic ideas for once we get Veronika’s Second Skin, and some of them we have already put into place, while we wait for her suit. We were at Second Skin for about an hour and a half, while we talked about goals for Veronika, and for her measurements to be taken.

My brother, Damo was in Sydney on a holiday, so he picked us up after the appointment. We had about 3 hours to fill in before we needed to head back to the airport. Damo said ‘you cant come to Sydney, and not do the tourist thing'(I hadn’t been to Sydney since my School trip in Grade 10, and I’m not telling you how old I am either!). Damo drove us to North Sydney where he was staying, and we decided to walk over the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and then along ‘The Rocks’, to around near the Opera House, where we stopped for a coffee.

About half way over the Bridge.

Along “the Rocks”, with the Sydney Opera House in the background

After we stopped for a coffee, we decided we would finish our walk along thru the Botanical Gardens, to Martin Place to the train station, to catch the train back to North Sydney. Yes Veronika loved the train ride too, and I was glad we decided not to walk back! We would have missed the plane, and I didn’t really want to carry Veronika in the wheelchair up and down the 50 or so stairs to get on and off the Sydney Harbour Bridge again!

Damo dropped us off at the airport and we waited for our plane…..Veronika was so well-behaved on our trip to Sydney. She only became upset on 1 of the 4 flights we had to go on much to my relief. The rest of the time on the plane she was too busy making friends with the flight attendants and the passengers.

Now I just have to wait patiently for her suit to be made….