Noah's journey

Introducing Cassie, Noah and her whānau
Cassie attends the Champion Centre every week with her 3-year-old son Noah. Originally from California, Cassie was living in Blenheim with her husband, Nick, and their older daughter when Noah was born with Down syndrome. Reflecting on the challenges ahead, and with the support of her family, Cassie decided she would be a strong advocate for her baby and strive for the best life she could for him. After some investigation into the services available and following a trip from Blenheim to Christchurch to visit the Centre, Cassie and Nick decided to relocate their family to Christchurch to be closer to extended family support and to attend the Champion Centre. 

We sat down with Cassie who shared with us some of her thoughts about the Centre and in particular, the most important things that have really made a difference. We are delighted to share these reflections here. What better way to understand the impact of our services than to hear directly from whānau.  
Making supportive connections with other families
“On joining the Champion Centre Baby Programme, I began to make supportive connections and finally felt I’d joined a community of other families who understood what it is to have a child with disabilities. I hadn’t experienced this before. While the journey for each family is different, I really feel that everyone tries to encourage one another as parents and nurture the relationships we are building while attending the programme together. It has also been particularly helpful to be part of a group in which all of the children have the same diagnosis. Because we come together regularly, on a weekly basis, we are able to support and learn from one another. Meeting with other parents and whānau has been one of the greatest benefits of coming to the Champion Centre.” 

A multi-disciplinary wrap-around service staffed by highly skilled professionals
“Over time I have come to understand just how unique the multi-disciplinary service offered at the Champion Centre really is. Most other health and education departments simply do not work together in the collaborative way staff do at the Champion Centre. I am immensely grateful that therapists operate as a strong multi-disciplinary team to support the best outcomes for Noah. Having all of the therapists under one roof takes the weight off me and allows me to slow down and notice all of the wonderful developmental progress that Noah is making. Having a Speech Language Therapist, an Early Intervention Teacher, an Occupational Therapist and a Musical Play Therapist working together means that I feel really reassured that all aspects of Noah’s development are attended to and that his development is viewed holistically. I have a background in primary school teaching and I understand just how much work goes into the jobs of the clinical staff behind the scenes, including planning, preparation and assessment. The Champion Centre staff are always so willing to do whatever is needed for Noah, and their skill and expertise are just so evident. 
I am also grateful for the wrap-around nature of the service. I truly appreciate being able to just be myself whenever I come into the Champion Centre. I know I don’t have to put on a brave face, as I sometimes feel I need to when I am out and about. I can arrive at the Champion Centre and whether I’ve been having a really good day or a terrible one, I can let the therapy team know, and it will be OK. The team will always make sure I have a cup of coffee and the chance to talk through some strategies to support me and help me move forwards.” 
Supporting communication through sign language
“Supporting Noah’s communication has been a priority for me and my family. We’ve worked really hard and taken every opportunity to work alongside the Champion Centre’s Sign Language Facilitator, Liz. Signing is definitely supporting his language development and thanks to Liz, we now incorporate sign language into every part of their lives. I credit Liz with helping Noah learn and utilise over 400 signs which support him to better express what he needs and what he is feeling.” 

The importance of family support at the Champion Centre – A one-stop shop
“I can’t speak highly enough of the family support offered to me before I had even stepped into the Champion Centre. The Social Work Team and the in-house counselling have just been so helpful. As a mother to a child with high needs, my own needs do tend to come last, and my own wellbeing can get lost in the rush of things. It took me some time to realise that I had been prioritising Noah’s health and wellbeing, while ignoring my own needs, and if I’m not OK, I can’t be there for him. I am encouraged and supported during my Champion Centre journey by someone from within the organisation who is close enough to understand my situation and struggles. This has meant the support is not disjointed and is much more personally tailored to my needs. 
I’ve also recently attended a Mum’s Support Group at the Champion Centre which was incredibly beneficial. Again, it was provided onsite and facilitated by staff who understand what the journey of having a child with disabilities can be like. This makes a huge difference.” 
Looking back at where we’ve come from – Noah’s developmental progress
“It is amazing to have a team working alongside Noah to cheer with me and celebrate his wins. The individualised forward planning of the therapists at the Champion Centre has helped Noah to excel and reach exciting developmental milestones. He is running, riding a balance bike, climbing, and always making people laugh with his witty sense of humour; while his speech is delayed, he has amazing receptive language and understanding, and is able to communicate with sign language. There are so many things to celebrate!” 

We’re grateful to Cassie for sharing her reflections. ​

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