“I really wanted to help a mum. When I saw someone close to me fall apart while caring for her disabled son, I wanted to do all I could to prevent that from happening to at least one other mum.” So Pamela responded when asked why she volunteers for ANGLICARE’s Westlink Carer Respite program.
Pamela first found out about ANGLICARE’s need for volunteers through her parish, St John’s Parramatta. With a grown family, she thought this would be a great way to live out her faith and serve someone in need.
Every week Pamela helps out two different families. Her big focus is to be there for the mothers, Anne and Naomi*. Anne is the mother of Melissa, who is five and her brother, Jeremy, three. Melissa has a rare syndrome that affects her ability to communicate and interact with her world, which means that she needs constant care. While she is a sweet child, life is draining for Anne, who also has to look after Melissa’s little brother.
“I remember when I came to meet Anne for the first time. I went with Val from ANGLICARE. (Val Haggett is the team leader for the program.) The reason for the visit was for us to meet one another and see how we got on. When we arrived I could see how much help Anne needed. The night before both kids had been sick. They had been up most of the night vomiting and Anne looked pretty ragged. That’s all I needed to see. Both Val and I got to work in the kitchen with the dishes and then we helped Anne fold her washing while we talked together. We got on really well from that first meeting!”
Pamela also talks about how she helps Naomi with her son, Samuel, who is three years old. Samuel has an intellectual and physical disability which prevents him from being able to walk. He also has a newborn brother. Pamela has been helping Naomi for only a few months and is still getting to know her.
Asked, what a typical day might look like when she comes to help one of her mums, Pamela talks about her experiences with Melissa, who she has been looking after for about one year. “I come every Monday. I always make sure that Jeremy joins in. We’ll usually sing some songs and play some games. While I am with the kids, Anne will do whatever she needs to, whether it is some shopping or something around the house. I’m there to make sure that the kids are looked after while she has time to do whatever she needs to.”
One really important thing for Pamela is celebrating Melissa’s achievements. “It can be as simple as just lowering her head during bath-time so I can rinse her head. I always make sure I give her lots of praise for this. In the time that I’ve been coming I’ve seen some really positive changes with Melissa.”
“I am glad to be able to help in this way. I’m continually praising the Lord in what I am doing and I want Anne and Naomi to know that their children are important in God’s eyes.”
• Not real names. Names of children have also been changed to protect privacy.