A rant supporting a rant

An old school friend posted this long comment about the budget decisions made last night with regard to her situation. Pre parent hood she had a wonderfully fulfilling career, and thankfully she has a supportive husband. Then she gave birth to a daughter with severe disabilities.

For all the parents out there that share the journey of having a child with disabilities, there is grief, there are hard realities and your normal life gains a new perspective as you try to get on with living with the wonderful rollercoaster of your new daily existence, as an advocate, carer, parent, diplomat. Its adds layers onto parenthood. Life is precious in all its forms, why do this government feel the need to make such blanket decisions?

Yes this is a rant supporting a rant, but really Abbott and Hockey you are both oxygen thieves.

“Political rant coming so be forewarned. I don’t normally get too involved in political crap BUT for pity’s sake what the hell is this stupid dumbass Liberal Govt trying to do to low income families.
I’ve heard all sorts of things lately – “if you can’t afford a family don’t have kids”; “I’m tired of supporting people on benefits”……
To those people: When you have a child you take for granted that child will be healthy. So, even if you have a little saved up to start a family, if your child is either born with a disability (which you may not have been made aware of) or develops a disability through no fault of your own, what you have saved will be wiped out very quickly.

Doctor appointments, specialist appointments, fuel to get to these appointments, physio therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, hydrotherapy, prescriptions become the normal part of your life….and they don’t come cheap.

Throw in special dietary needs and the cost of living escalates even more. An example: we were recently charged $200 for a one hour speech therapy appointment, $160 for a physio appointment. These are therapies which need to be done consistently but due to the cost cannot be.
The Govt are now going to charge an extra $5 for prescriptions. Most say that $5 is not much – what about when you need to purchase up to 4 – 6 prescriptions a month for one special needs child – and these are not including prescriptions such as anti-biotics.
I would have gladly gone back to work after I had my eldest child – but due to health issues my GP suggested I take extended leave to care for her.

She was diagnosed with cerebral palsy affecting all of her limbs. I became her full time carer which I still am to this day. She developed epilepsy at 7 and now has uncontrolled seizures, even on multiple medications.

I do not use respite as I do not trust my daughter’s health in the hands of total strangers. I actually receive less money from the Govt for being her carer/nurse/therapist than a paid respite carer.
The Govt are quick to take money from a Carer’s pension – when a child turns 6 it apparently costs less to look after a child – really?? The medications are still there, the therapies still need to be done, bills increase not decrease but they will still take money from you.
Do you think it’s easy to accept help from the Govt.? No, it’s not. It can feel extremely degrading. So, to the people who think we are bludging and sponging off the Govt, get off your high horse and spend a day or a week with a family with a special needs child – you or a family member may one day find yourself in a similar position of caring for a loved one with a disability or special needs. Disabilities do not discriminate, epilepsy does not discriminate.
The NDIS – well, in Qld that doesn’t come in for a few more years – that’s if it’s not scrapped in the meantime and even so, it seems a lifetime away And, we still don’t know what that includes.
What happens when I can no longer afford to purchase medications for my daughter? Joe Hocking, Tony Abbot – feel free to answer that for me.

How are we meant to get to appointments as most specialists are in Brisbane and with the increasing costs in fuel, most people on carers’ pensions won’t be able to afford to do that.

Blood tests – they are vital for some people with severe health issues to check the levels of certain medications – how do we cover the costs of those too on top of everything else.
oh, and if you think I’m just having a whinge and should get over it, feel free to delete me as a friend as you are obviously not one.

Source: Facebook