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Justin's Story

Justin Parker attends Scope's GOKIDS Children's Mobility Advisory Service and also receives Scope school-based services for physiotherapy and occupational therapy. Here is Justin's story as told by his proud Mum, Glenda.

Justin was born 10 weeks premature at the Woman's Hospital in Melbourne. For the first week he was doing well then, when he was just nine days old, Justin contracted suspected meningitis. Despite having four spinal taps, the results were inconclusive whether he had viral or bacterial meningitis. It was stated to us that he may have a slight loss of hearing.

Justin returned to Bendigo Hospital at six weeks of age and was home before his expected due date. But, despite regular checks with the paediatrician, Justin was not reaching expected goals (i.e. sitting, rolling, crawling). Justin was 18 months old, when a specialist in Melbourne told us that Justin had Quadriplegia Ataxic Cerebral Palsy. Despite having this type of Cerebral Palsy, which obviously affects his four limbs, today Justin has speech and can communicate very well.

Justin has always had a happy disposition. Having to work with lots of therapists, he has always accepted his disability. He has wonderful people skills and makes friends easily. Justin attends a mainstream primary school where he is the only child in a wheelchair. He is now in Grade Six and has just been elected into the School Council - much to his and our delight!

"We basically organise fundraising and other such things," Justin has explained. "On being elected to the Student Council, I felt good, but I was also a bit speechless. On the Council, you make decisions for the school and organise out of school uniform days. It was also important because the kids voted me in."

One of Justin's loves has always been television and it is his dream to work to in this field, perhaps as a presenter or doing voiceovers. So it was a great honour for him to be invited to the GOKIDS launch and meet Peter Smith from Channel Nine, who is one of Justin's idols.

Justin has strong love of sport, having his wheelchairs made in the colours of his favourite football team, Essendon! Justin also follows greyhound racing, as the family has been involved in the sport in Bendigo for a number of years. Just this year, Justin's uncle Barry was one of two people chosen to be a local celebrity tipster for the Bendigo Greyhound Cup, with winnings going to a local charity. Justin suggested that his winnings could go to Scope and backed two dogs to win. However, although one of the dogs gained a second placing, there was no prize money for Justin!

In another promotion, organised by the Greyhound Racing Association of Victoria, a series of race meetings were held throughout Victoria called the Great Chase, where local charities were given a dog to race on their behalf. Scope drew a dog named Major Blaze and he has won his way through to the final, picking up $400 through the series for Scope. If he wins, Scope will get a further $1000 - much to Justin's delight!