Leigh, My Amazing Son

Our children are our future. We count down the months and weeks to the happy event of their birth. When they are born we are overwhelmed with a flood of emotions: relief, contentment, pride, love and joy. We are excited about what their future may hold.

However, our baby was born with many challenges; he was a ‘hospital baby’. We were unprepared for this, but after the initial shock we dealt with our fears for his future. We learned to overlook and overcome many of Leigh’s physical limitations: this beautiful baby boy was a gift to us.

Leigh grew up to become a soft-spoken, gentle man and a caring and compassionate son. His life journey demanded immense courage and resilience to handle its many setbacks head-on. As a child, his dream was to be ‘just like the other kids’: go to school, get a job, drive a car and live an independent life. But along the way he had to endure endless surgeries and appointments, learn to use mobility and breathing devices, and cope with discrimination and hospital shortfalls. He never ceased to amaze us.

This book is also about dedication to better patient care.

When a patient is admitted to hospital, part of their clinical assessment may include a Resuscitation Plan. This is an official medical form regarding what should be done in case of resuscitation. It outlines broadly defined decisions as to desired outcomes, detailed treatment options and their limitations. My aim is to ensure everyone knows about this form and fully understands its implications.

Inadvertently, Leigh played a pivotal role in this quest. As a direct result of his experiences within the hospital system, changes were made to the Consensus Resuscitation Plan and the accompanying information sheet

on CPR, used by two major hospitals.

This is the story of Leigh’s fight for life.

Leigh, My Amazing Son is a revealing and evocative story sharing personal insight into the arduous journey of a man with a severe disability and his mother/carer. If you are living with a disability, are a carer, or simply someone who has compassion for others, you will most certainly feel a strong connection to many of the events described in this book.