National Disability Insurance Scheme

My beautiful son Campbell is 14 years old. I am really not sure how he got to be a young man so quickly- it was completely against my will.

I love him so much I think my heart is about to burst out of my chest right now. He is lovely and funny and charming and quite clever. I could not have ever wished for a child who would make me so proud- and then I was blessed with two more!
Campbell has cerebral palsy and he is also autistic. They are the trickiest of his disabilities, but he also has a vision impairment, epilepsy and hydrocephalus (which is managed with a shunt). He is also the first one in our family to speak up when he see an injustice, when he thinks someone is hurt or sad or needs some love. We have faced some very trying times together and he has often found it difficult to express his frustrations. I have had too many times felt like a bad mother and struggled to find the strength to fight the next battle. I feel like I know and understand him now- I know what will upset him before he does. I predict the stresses before they can cause upset. I can read the signs.

I know that there will be plenty of people who will resent the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Many who cannot understand why they should have to pay the bill for something that doesn't even effect them. I do understand that. I resent the fact that I have no choice but to work full-time in order to support my family. That as high as our needs are, with so many hours needed to attend appointments, as well as meet the general family needs, I have to work if we are to pay our bills.

I am not even sure if Campbell will benefit from this scheme, but if he doesn't he does have a loving family who will continue to work to support him.

There are too many people who do not have that.

Please take a moment to watch this.

Speculation is running high about how the National Disability Insurance Scheme will be funded and whether Australia can afford it.

Athlete Kurt Fearnley gave a riveting Australia Day address this year, where he called for urgent action on the NDIS.

Watch and share this video and help us get to 30,000 views before Budget Day on May 14.

If you know Campbell and admire his strength please share it.

Thank you xxx

Mr Charisma.

Another beautiful photo captured by The Follans.

My Campbell is such a gorgeous boy! I got to spend the day with him today and didn't feel even the slightest bit guilty about taking the day off work do to it (I usually do but I have now decided that my boys deserve to share in my wealth of accumulated sick days). Today was a BOTOX appointment at the Children's Hospital. This was always my chief job before Joe was born and then full- time work came into the picture. Eric, being the ever amazing Dad that he is, has had the job for the past few years. My goodness it is so much easier with a young man who can be reasoned with. He hates the gas mask and he has (with good reason) developed quite a fear and mistrust of hospital procedures- he was lied to fairly frequently from a very young age about what may or may not hurt! He is now in a position to make it very clear to those brandishing needles and other such instruments where they can put them!!! He is also very charming and manages to make friends where ever we go. Our new BOTOX Doctor (who happens to be English) was more than happy to chat about vintage BBC comedy and even knew all of the catch phrases that Campbell kept throwing his way. At the end of the process Campbell politely apologised to everyone- he still resists the gas mask and most certainly felt the needles going in despite all best efforts. They were touched and the lovely Doc gave a very nice speech about how much he enjoys seeing Campbell and that he is such an interesting young man (he did seem quite impressed with the obscure detail Campbell offered up). The best bit of all was my big, long and heartfelt hug from my charming big boy before he left the bed to get back into the wheelchair. Did I well up a little? Shed a little tear? HA!!! Just a little. What a boy! Proud beyond words.

I treated him to an afternoon trip to the shops to spend his birthday vouchers at Westfields. I have no doubt that Parramatta Westfield has the slowest lifts in the entire world- fully expected to be trapped inside the Myers lift until the wee hours of the morning. He spent his Dymocks money promptly and without the usual hours long deliberation- hurrah! An easy in and out trip for us except for some dramas in the lifts- of course this just provided Campbell with the opportunity for a chat with some new friends. By the time we were finally delivered to the car park he had managed to find out that our lift was shared by a mother and son who are Korean and had just bought some flowers for a friend who is feeling under the weather, he has been advised in the dietary preferences of the Korean race, they now understand that he is very upset that his Uncle Gordon passed away recently and that he has two younger brothers (as well as their names, ages and annoying habits). He also managed to squeeze in somewhere in the conversation that he loved me!! Wow- Mr Charisma I tell you! He had formed such firm friends in the time we were trapped within the lift that he was offered some chewing gum. In the time it took this lovely lady to pat my arm and bless me for being Mummy to such a nice young man, Campbell noisily chewed on the gum and then announced that he had swallowed it!!! The doors finally opened on the correct floor and I again took an opportunity to hug my amazing son as I lifted him into the car to take him home.

And yes...I have now welled up and there may be a tear or two rolling down my cheeks....