Kim Scott Bell
As told by her mother, Fiona.
On the 16th January 1984, Kim was born at 25 weeks gestation weighing in at only 1 1⁄2 pounds. The doctors and nurses whisked her away to treat her and see what she would do, fight or give up.
Because of such complications as her underdeveloped lungs and the infection in her system that had been passed on to her from me, the medical team were unsure whether she was going to make it. But two hours later, Kim was being rushed by helicopter to the Camperdown Children’s Hospital in Sydney, after it was clear that Kim was going to fight for her little life. On the flight down, Kim lost weight, at the CCH she weighed in at 750 grams.
This was to be Kim’s home for the next three months with minimal handling and tubes and machines constantly attached to her little body. Monitors were keeping a check on everything on this little one; if she coughed someone knew about it. The following three weeks were critical to Kim’s health, they found she had a small hole in her heart, then she had a bowel infection and jaundice, one thing after another seemed to hit her but she fought it all and beat it. An infection had also reached Kim and got into her lungs even though they were underdeveloped, causing problems from the very start.
During the three months, Kim was in the hospital in Sydney, the doctors discovered she was suffering from a mild case of Cerebral Palsy due to being born so prematurely. The doctors told us that she could be the next Prime Minister of Australia or she could have a lot of learning difficulties. But in reality, we were just relieved that she was alive and on the road to recovery, no matter what was in store.
Time went by and Kim grew stronger each day. We had many hurdles with her health that required us to travel back and forth to Sydney, a two-hour trip one way. After three months, she was allowed to come home for the first time.
After another twelve months of going back and forth to Sydney for checkups with the specialists, checking Kim’s balance and reaction time, coordination etc, the doctors found that her fine motor skills were damaged but advised that working on them would greatly improve these skills. Again, a lot of time was spent trying to help this little one to get through each day. This went on for the first four – ve years.
During that time, when Kim was about 2 1/2, she was thrown into the deep end again with her health. She came down with bronchial pneumonia which saw her have another stay in the hospital for three weeks. Eventually, Kim recovered from this but it left her with a very weak chest that was susceptible to any infection going for a number of years to come.
It soon came time for Kim to attend school. It was 11 then that we really found out where and what the problems were. We were sure that, with the right support, we would be able to cope with anything that came along. However, we seemed to have nothing but confusion with the NSW school system as they struggled to communicate with us in ways that we could work together to assist and support Kim. Disappointment and discouragement set in for me, as her mum, because I felt like I was hitting my head against a brick wall 24/7 and was getting nowhere with how to teach Kim or help her in any way.
When Kim was 10, her father and I separated and sometime later I remarried and moved to Queensland. Kim and her sister Kerry started at their new school and were doing well. Not long after, I received a phone call from the Principal asking to see me. I was overwhelmed when he asked if he could arrange to have the Special Education School in our local town do an assessment on Kim and see what they could do for her to help make learning easier.
I was absolutely astounded! Finally, we were getting the support and help we needed. This help was life changing for Kim. Within a few weeks she was showing signs of marked improvement in most areas of her learning, plus her attitude improved and her face beamed when she was doing well. We were all thrilled that finally, we were getting somewhere.
Then came high school – this was going to be a real challenge for Kim, or so I thought! Wrong, she excelled. Kim attended mainstream high school in Gympie and was integrated into the Special Education School, which was on the same property. With her subjects designed to suit her disabilities, she did really well at school and went on to finish Year 12 in 2002.
During high school Kim decided she wanted to help people who were in trouble so, with our support and encouragement, she joined the local SES unit here in Glenwood. Whenever the SES team call, no matter what time of the day or night, Kim is up, dressed and gone within minutes to go to someone’s aid. She takes a personal interest in the current problem and tries to work out what they should do and how to overcome it.
If it is bad weather, she becomes the local ‘weather station’, repeating everything that the forecasters say! Kim always tries to put in 100% and it shows. Kim has been involved in the SES for about four years; she is one of the dependable members they call on as they know that she will do the job properly and thoroughly. Kim loves being involved in the SES and will continue to do so because that’s who she is – a person who cares about others.
Kim has been involved in various activities in the local community, whether it is paid or voluntary work. Her first paid job was working for Green Corps in Tiaro. This involved doing work outside such as painting toilet blocks, fences, planting trees etc; it would also take her to various places such as Tiaro, Glenwood, Gympie, Tinnanbar, Fraser Island. Kim always does her best and tries to blend with everyone she meets.
At times she was faced with hard times when other young people would tease or taunt her and it would hurt her, but she never gave in, she kept going back and didn’t quit because of the taunting. Kim then went back to the Job Match group in Gympie who are set up to help nd appropriate work for participants and then work alongside them at the job site until they are con dent that they are capable of doing the work on their own, unaided. They found her paid work at a local cafe in Gympie. It took a while, but Kim eventually managed to work there unaided for about two and a half years.
Now Kim has another job, one in which she is extremely happy and that is working at the local school library. It is the most rewarding sight of all when you see the gleam in her eyes after a day at work.
Now, at the age of 23, Kim has learnt how to deal with things that life has thrown at her. There are times when she takes two steps backwards and one step forward, but her learning is improving with each experience she passes through. On the other side, she is a little wiser and ready for the next lesson, but she is so much stronger.
Her disability was something that may have caused her problems when she was a lot younger, but Kim has learnt to continue on through life with the attitude that she is the same as everyone else. She is able to do anything she puts her mind to. The extra effort of caring, teaching and guiding Kim is all worthwhile when you recognise that she is a very loving, caring person who tries her best at whatever she does.
As her mother, I have also learnt so much throughout Kim’s life in ways that I never knew existed. A lot of these things have been taught to me through my daughter’s patience, love and persistence. If I had to live this life over again, I would go through all of this with Kim, not changing a thing. I have been very fortunate to have had a great daughter like Kim. I’m very glad she wasn’t the next Prime Minister as I would not have been lucky enough to know her as well as I do now. One thing I will give Kim is, when she makes up her mind to do something, she does it no matter what!