By Brendan Rees
Amelia has been excited for months to start her first day of school.
It’s a major milestone for the five year-old who has cerebral palsy, severe epilepsy and asthma – but she has never let her disability stop her from living life.
Mum Shae Finnigan said she was extremely proud of her daughter making it to her big day at Cranbourne East Primary School on Thursday, 1 February.
“She’s very excited. She was up bright and early this morning and telling me that today was the day,” she said.
“She’s been looking forward to it for a long time.”
“She’s got her older brother in grade one at the school so being with him has been a massive thing for her.”
“We weren’t sure if she would ever get to mainstream school so we’re obviously absolutely pumped and wrapped.”
Ms Finnigan says she was blown away by the support of school staff.
“They’ve been just amazing. They’ve trained 30 staff in epilepsy and 20 in her actual emergency medication.”
Amelia, who can lose her balance often, needs to wear ankle-foot orthosis, which is a support to control the position and motion of her ankle. She will also have a full-time classroom aid.
“She’s got restrictions through mobility. She gets around very well but tires very easily.”
“The way the classroom’s set out they’ve moved the tables wider than normal, so she’s got plenty of room to get through and if she does fall she doesn’t hit her head,” she said.
Ms Finnigan admits she was very nervous about not being by her daughter’s side all the time.
“With the epilepsy side of things obviously the seizures can be quite prolonged so I’m nervous not being there.”
Though she has no doubts Amelia will embrace school and engage with her peers.
“She’ll absolutely give it 130 per cent. I know she’ll fit in and make friends.”
Asked what Amelia dreams are in life, Ms Finnigan she she one day hoped to be a doctor.
“She’s at the hospital a lot and sees lots of sick kids so she wants to help,” she said.
