An Accessible Adventure: Our Winter Escape!

Canowindra in July is cold. Very cold. 

It is during this season -in the depths of winter- that our little house becomes cramped and tense as we keep the kids indoors for days on end. 

You get good at finding indoor activities...

Being born with Muscular Dystrophy means that your lungs, and the muscles that support them, are weak. Cold weather usually brings respiratory infections. They can be a killer. So we decided it was well worth the effort to plan a get-away. North Queensland is our winter haven!

We spent weeks searching and praying for suitable accessible accommodation that would fit us, then many hours ringing to check and double-check it. So it was with a fair measure of anticipation that we hit the road before dawn one morning, for our Queensland Road-Trip/Migration! 

Whenever we cross the border between NSW and Queensland we immediately feel better. It's a 'coming home' feeling for Benjamin, as he grew up on the wide open plains of south Queensland. Inevitably he winds down the windows and says: "SMELL THAT KIDS?! WE"RE IN QUEENSLAND!" Inevitably they cheer -after a good 10 hours to get there- and inevitably I smile and laugh. The air does seem free-er and warmer. It's a relief. 

This is how we roll, long-haul style!

After a brief stop over at Nan and Pops near Warwick, we headed straight for Hervey Bay on the coast above Brisbane. We miraculously found Koondari Resort online, and I'm so glad we did! They had the most accessible family room I've seen. The kids had a blast roaming over the tropical bushland paths and basketball courts. It was in walking distance to some good things. One day we went for an epic walk down the local 1km long pier, another day we explored the beautiful botanic gardens, and on another we made the effort and carried each of the kids down the 16 steps between them and the shore. It was beautiful to say the least.. They hadn't had sand between their toes for years.  (And yes, Gideon did break his leg just days before we went on holidays. But that's another story!)

After Hervey Bay we headed due north up the coast, via some friends in Bundaberg, and then on to Gladstone (great botanical gardens, not so great cinemas. Again, another story!) 

The day we headed for Mackay we stopped in on one of 3 accessible cave sites in Australia, just past Rockhampton. We discovered Capricorn Caves three years ago, when we first made the migration, and it was still as interesting and exciting an experience for the kids to visit there again. Caves are a special rarity for them..

Heading further north a few more hours, you drive into Sarina, and if the wind is right, you can smell the sugar mill before you see it.  As anyone who has driven through north Queensland knows, vast sugar cane crops line the roads on either side, as far as the eye can see. Sarina sugar mill is one of the big Queensland refineries that processes the local crops. The Sarina Sugar Shed is right next door, a must-see, with an interesting and informative tour. AND, at the end of the tour, the kids get a fairy floss the size of their heads! The definite highlight for our three!

In Sarina we caught up with close family we hadn't seen for years. Aunty Deb and uncle Pete's house is a tropical oasis next to sugar cane fields. The kids roved all over their sprawling lawns with their cousins, just with the odd warning to look out for brown snakes!

Another night we had an impromptu BBQ with aunty Meg and uncle Mark, and afterwards hunted cane toads on their back lawn. Little cousin Emily skilfully rode on Anwen's lap, (much to their mutual delight), while the four kids and aunty Meg roamed around like a hunting pack with the spotlight. It was a nighttime adventure!  

A little further north we got to Mackay, as far north as we would venture this time. After also miraculously finding Potters Oceanside Motel online, it was a delight to stay there, with the very friendly staff going out of their way to accommodate our needs. Mackay was so deliciously warm the girls and I even felt like a swim one afternoon, after a long walk. (Yes, I cheated and hired the free bike for the long walk!)

Our days of living out of a suitcase were limited though, and it was bitter-sweet to head south again.

Coming home to Canowindra was a bit of a shock, after the balmy weather of Mackay. The closer we got to home, the colder the wind, and the darker the heavy clouds. We had come home to the coldest couple of weeks of bitter winter, which saw the first local snow in about 30 years! We kept the kids home from school for a week, but back home in our little warm haven of a house, we were happy. We had traveled about 4,000km, had a good taste of the sun, and let the warmth back into our bones. 

Back home in Canowindra, when the weather finally cleared it was good to get back out on our block again. Two of the ewes surprised us and had their lambs early and they had managed to survive the freezing conditions. The winter rains had come; the grass needed slashing and our 200 baby trees needed rescuing!   

On our block where we will build..

Since then it's been a busy month or so for us Read's.. I think we have only just recovered from holidays, and gotten back into routine. But it was worth it. We have been blessed with only minor ill health this winter, and we are so grateful for it. 

All these long cold months we've had regular conversations as a family on the topic of how different it will be for us all "when we are in the new house"...

It's hard to describe how much we are all looking forward to living in this new home. A home that is well insulated, solar passive and naturally warm; a home with good air quality and no mould; a home that is big enough, and designed well enough to be able to accommodate our family with ease during winter.. A dream-come-true would be to be in this home before winter sets in next year.

How much of a relief it will bring, and how big a difference it will make for our family, is hard to describe with words. It's a feeling which almost makes me cry.

And so we walk on.. 

Thanks so much for sharing the journey with us.

P.S: A full update on the 'miracle house' fundraising coming soon! 

It Really Will Be 'The House That Love Built'

Canowindra to City2Surf, and a Goal in Sight!

So much to tell you, I don't know where to begin! But I have to say straight up: It really will be 'the house that love built'. It has been one incredible, ongoing 'love story'.

The love of friends, family, and complete strangers. The word is spreading, and people from local communities all across NSW, and beyond, are getting behind our family, and our need to build an accessible house for our wheelchair-bound 8 year old triplets. So much love. God knew we couldn't do it on our own.

Since the last update, things have been progressing steadily. Thanks to the generosity of design company 'Envirotecture', our house design is being finalised, and they are completing all the necessary paperwork required for building approval. It's been a long process.
Once the paperwork is approved we'll be looking to start earthworks, hopefully before the winter is out, and then pour the slab. Come summer, we hope the house will be starting to rise from the ground. I have a feeling we have quite a journey ahead of us though!

For a closer look at the plans, head to our Facebook page 'Realising For The Read Triplets'- or just ask!

While we've been waiting, we made the most of a lovely Autumn and planted a variety of over 200 trees along some of the boundaries of our block. We are also so grateful for the help of landscape designer Sally Bourne, who has offered to assist us in creating a beautiful and accessible outdoor environment for our triplets, once the house is built!

Family tree planting day! The kids loved helping.

Ben and Gideon 

It has been so encouraging for our whole family to constantly see donations coming in. We often tell the kids the details and they are amazed. Yesterday the house fund was at $137,500. Then we were stunned by an anonymous donor giving a whopping $50k. The total suddenly is now at $187,500, (not including donations-in-kind), and we are a mere $13k from our initial target of $200k! Hooray! Thank you! 

It's been just amazing. One continuous story of love and hope.. But the story is far from being over. 

We are so grateful to almost be at our initial goal of $200k, a figure we decided on in the beginning as a minimum 'starting amount'. Actually the total cost of building this accessible home for Anwen, Mahalah and Gideon could be triple this amount. 

At this stage we really don't know how it will pan out. Speaking openly, we have some equity to borrow against if we have to, but the maximum we can reasonably borrow is just less than $200k, and having a substantial loan on a minimal income is not a great idea. Even then, we would still be about another $200k short, give or take. 

It really is a 'faith journey', not knowing exactly how things will pan out, but we have a strong hope it will turn out. We believe it's what we need to do for Anwen, Mahalah and Gideon, in helping them grow into confident and independent individuals. 

Picnic lunch on block in early June.

Very recently, an exciting development has occurred which could significantly help us on that journey. A number of dedicated Canowindra residents have formed a fundraising group, committed to assisting Anwen, Mahalah and Gideon, and helping to realise the goal of their accessible 'miracle house'! 

They are entering a group of walkers/runners in the upcoming City2Surf, on Sunday the 9^th of August, and are aiming to have 100 entrants in their team, who each fundraise a certain amount to take part. So far they have about 50 interested people, and are looking for any 'expressions of interest' from anyone wishing to join team 'Raisingaroof4readtriplets'. It sounds like a fun day out!
If you would like to be involved please register your interest by contacting Anne Ward via email: gayton@swingingbridge.com.au, or messaging her on Facebook.

Big or little, we deeply appreciate all of the many and various help given by everyone. It has meant solid steps toward the reality of a very large dream for Anwen, Mahalah and Gideon. So thank you.

Follow our ongoing story, as it unfolds week to week, by 'liking' our Facebook page: 'Realising For The Read Triplets'.
For enquiries, or donations-in-kind contact Jemimah at: benjem@gmail.com

Online donations can be made by clicking the 'Donate' button at the top right of this page, or the direct details are:

Bank: Canowindra NAB

Name: B & J Read Triplets Special Needs

BSB: 082-500

Acc: 39-690-5753

Getting There- But Help Still Needed!

Our Triplets Accessible 'Miracle House' Is Slowly Being Birthed.. But Help Is Still Needed To Build It!

 

out on our block

The house plans are in the final stages and a surveyor is on the job. We have been busy with sheep and fencing, and we are getting ready to plant boundary screens... 

Yet, as most of you know, Ben and I -being full time carers, with limited income and assets- could not possibly afford to build this large, purpose built house on our own.. 

So we've been fundraising to help make this house a reality!  Over the last 12 months a variety of generous people have contributed an amazing total so far of $123,660! This will be such a help! We are so grateful! But the finances still fall short of what is needed to complete the house. We need help.

TO DONATE: 
-With a credit card: click the 'Donate' button at the top right of this blog.
-With direct deposit: our bank details are; 

Acc Name- 'Read Triplets Special Needs', 

Bank- NAB Canowindra, 

BSB- 082 500, 

Acc No- 396 905 753

-With 'donations in kind' or other assistance, contact us via email: benjem@gmail.com 

Thank you! Every little bit directly helps build the house! 

SHARING: an easy, practical way you can help:

The kids recently helped us make a 3min clip designed to spread and share with all our friends. It's basically our story in a tasty nutshell.  Here is the link to it! 

I figured if our friends could share it with their friends, and their friends shared it with their friends, and so on, who knows where, and who, God could take our story to?! Who knows what could happen?! 

The reality is we need help, and we need to put our story out there. We hope and pray that people might respond.. It's humbling and difficult, but we're trusting that good can come out of it- that it blesses people, as much or more than we are blessed by them!

So check out the interesting 3min clip below, and please consider sharing this with as many of your friends, family and contacts as you can. We really appreciate your help. (Here is the link again: Young Triplets In Need )

With Hope, Love and Faith,
Jem Read
(On behalf of Benjamin, and Anwen, Mahalah and Gideon). 

Building the Miracle House in 2015?

January is growing old and 2015 is definitely here. Unfortunately, it seems like it's time to shake off the holiday sloth and get back to everyday life..! 

Hot holiday afternoons inside..

What are your goals for 2015? 

Ours are simple: care for our three rambunctious wheelchair-bound 8 year olds, hold onto each other, oh, and build a fully accessible house. 

A noisy game of 'rounding up the (pink) sheep'!

Update on the 'Miracle House' project:

So far we have about $82,000 in donations in the Miracle House account, and about $25,000 in pledged building products. 

Our initial estimated fundraising goal is $200,000; although this could change depending on costs, and whether we can get a loan to cover the remaining cost of building.

We have been very blessed to have building designer Dick Clarke from Envirotecture http://www.envirotecture.com.au donating his efforts to draw up plans for our difficult design brief. Recently we agreed on some preliminary plans which will fit our three kids, wheelchairs and all, and their long term special needs. We love Dicks work and we are excited to see the new house taking shape- on paper at least! 

Taking shape! (North is top of page, LDK: lounge, dining, kitchen. G: guest, ST: study, L2: 2nd lounge/kids space. All sized carefully to be completely accessible. Stage 2 is an indoor therapy pool.)

On our new block- one day the house will be in the distance behind us!

The next steps will involve getting ready to build! We hope to start building by June, but we would like to be closer to our fundraising goal before we embark on this massive project.

What do you hope to see when you look back on 2015 this time next year? 

As well as looking back on a year of deepening growth and love, we hope to look back on a year where we were able to build a house where our children are able to move freely, without feeling like they are constantly in the way. 

Wheelchair inflicted damage is common in our tight house.

Where do you hope to be this time next year? 

We dream of being in a home that fits our kids and enables them to grow in confidence and independence, a blessing to others.

We hope 2015 is a good one for you too! 

We'd love for you to get involved in our adventure this year, simply by sharing our story with others, (perhaps by sharing this blog link). Or join our journey by visiting our new Facebook page, 'Realising For The Read Triplets'
https://www.facebook.com/realising4thereadtriplets. 
We'd love to hear from you! 

Thanks so much to all those who have already shared and helped us out so generously- bless you!

PS: For those interested in promoting our cause in a more intentional way, I can post a handful of A6 postcards, printed with the above photo of us on our block, as well as all the necessary details about the 'miracle house' project printed on the backs! Simply comment below and I will be in touch.

Thanks again, we are very grateful to everyone involved in this 'barn raising'! xo

A Block For Their Birthday

What a day. 

This time 8 years ago I was adjusting to the fact that Ben and I suddenly had two tiny girls and one tiny boy. Three babies that were totally dependant on us.. I would never have imagined in what way, and for how long. I had no idea of what lay ahead.. 

Now 8 years later I shake my head in wonder- at many things, but today I am amazed- how many 8 year olds get a 5 acre block on their birthday? 

It seems that the long wait, of patiently hoping and praying for this block to build on, has finally come to fruition. And of all days, settlement took place yesterday- the 17th of November- on the kids 8th birthdays. It was just what they had been hoping for! 

Let me introduce our new block:

A miraculous story in itself, we have been able to purchase a 5 acre block of land on which to build a specially designed, accessible house for Anwen, Mahalah and Gideon's special needs! 

Mahalah waves to some friends as she gets out at the block for the first time.

Anwen got out of the van on the block for the first time and said: "The first thing I intend to do is to go for a run!" 

Gideon and his friend go trooping off together straight away.

 Tucked away on the western edge of town, and up a slight rise, the block feels peaceful and removed, yet is within walking distance to the main street and the high school. Almost a year in the making, 'the block' is the right combination of mental space, physical space, and accessibility to town, all things that our family really needs.

Now that we officially own this land, the next stage is designing a very special type of house..

There are many things to carefully consider to make a house truly accessible for one power wheelchair- let alone three. All I can say is we are glad to have an experienced building designer on the job. Actually we are very grateful for Dick Clarke, director of 'Envirotecture', based in Sydney, as he has volunteered his time and skills to help make our new house a reality.

Dick and Ben taking measurements on the building envelope.

At this stage the house fundraising is up to about $70,000- over a third of the way towards our initial goal of $200,000, to begin building. (We are hoping to be able to cover the other half of the estimated total cost on our own).

Thank you *very much* to all the businesses, friends and strangers who have all pulled together with such a beautiful community spirit to help make this 'miracle house' become an amazing reality for Anwen, Mahalah and Gideon. 

I can't wait to post you the next update. Whether it be house designs, earthworks, foundations or tree planting, we'll keep you updated. 
At each stage along the way you may know of something or someone that could potentially help. Please be invited to join in on our adventure. We really can't do it on our own. I think that's the beauty of it.

And who knows, maybe this time next year we might be celebrating Anwen, Mahalah and Gideon's 9th birthday in our new, accessible 'miracle house'?

L to R, Mahalah, Anwen and Gideon exploring the block on their 8th birthday with friends. 

In Other News: 

• A friend has set up a GoFundMe page on our behalf. It's an easy way to spread the word, and the donate button is directly linked to the kids account. Check it out here: http://www.gofundme.com/acpmok?forcedesktop=1  

• You may have noticed this blogs' shiny new-ish Donate button. It is also directly linked to the house fundraising account via PayPal.

• The 'miracle house' account details, for those wishing to use them directly are; Bank: NAB Canowindra, Account Name: 'Read Triplets Special Needs'  BSB: 082 500, Account Number: 396 905 753  

With much gratitude and gladness, 

Jemimah Read. 

On behalf of Benjamin, and Anwen, Mahalah and Gideon. 

In The News!

Strangely, in just this week, two happy media coincidences have meant that our story is spreading far and wide..  

Also included in this post: an exciting fundraising update, including the total raised so far, (steadily rising). 

We are so grateful.. 

After recently meeting Bob Holland, the enthusiastic editor of the local 'Orange City Life' magazine, he generously volunteered to write a full page story about our unique family and our accessible, purpose-built, house project. His excellent article is in this weeks edition of 'Orange City Life'. Follow the link below to read online. (Click on the magazine). See page 18.

http://www.orangecitylife.com.au

Our story will also be in their sister mag 'Bathurst City Life' next week, and also later on in Dubbo Photo News. Thanks so much Bob and Jackie Holland! 

The Salvation Army's 'WarCry' magazine has also coincidently chosen this week to feature a double page spread about our family and our 'miracle house' project in their weekly edition! Thanks so much once again Glynne from Orange Salvo's, and Faye the lovely editor of the national magazine.

Thanks to the extra coverage, there has been extra donors giving generously to the 'Read Triplets Special Needs' fund, for the kids 'miracle' house. Thank you very much to those people who have responded with such kindness, especially Matt and others from Orange. Thanks also to the regular donors who have been giving each month, thank you very much for your encouraging support, especially Pam and Bill.

We have also had a generous offer from a tile business owner who could potentially cover all our tiling needs for the house, approximately $3,000 or more of product! Thanks so much Dennis.

It all counts, and it all goes directly towards the house project. 

So far we are up to $38,906, with a target of $200,000 to cover the gap we cannot afford. That's an adjusted goal of $161,094. Yaay!

There could be some more exciting news in the not too distant future, perhaps nicely coinciding with the week of the kids birthday in November??.. 
I can't believe the year has gone by so quickly since their last birthday.. 

I wonder what will happen next..? 
Stay tuned! 

The adventure continues...
Jem

Xox

Winter Adventures and Fundraising Update!

It's a welcome relief to see our tree out the back starting to blossom, and the first whispers of Spring are floating through the open window.

 It was a long winter for a while there!.. People down the street have been asking me where I've been, so I better poke my head out of my little burrow and explain..! 

We've been very busy this term, hibernating inside to stay warm and well. Then when the sickness finally found us, Ben and I were kept busy around the clock actively helping the kids to stay on top of a respiratory virus. 

It eventually got the better of Anwen, so she and I spent a week in the lovely children's ward at Orange hospital while she won back her full lung function from the virus..

I am so thankful to be living in this day and age, I tell you! Thank you Aunty Deidre and 'Aunty' Katie for your encouraging visits, as well as the lovely staff on the ward.

Anwen in hospital, July

Then about a month later it was Gideon's turn! He recently spent a week at Westmead Kid's Hospital after having both of his hip cups and femoral heads operated on. It was scheduled since last December, and we knew what to expect as Anwen had the same operation last year (to stabilise dislocating hips).
Even still, it was a big strain on our family, being separated from each other, and helping Gideon recover and deal with the pain post-op, now that he is home.

Thank you very much to all the family and friends involved in supporting us through that time. We would've really struggled without you -especially Nanna Mereen and Aunty Judy.

Gideon 5 days post surgery, August

Now that we are all home together, and the weather has been kinder, it's been nice to venture out again as a family- we still love getting outdoors when we can. Last weekend we took a picnic lunch to the reserve out of town and I thoroughly enjoyed watching the kids wander off along the bush tracks- until daddy took them down a 4wdriving ravine and they did a bit of mud slinging themselves!

You don't know *how long* it took me to hose the mud off their tyres so they could come inside - but it was worth it! 

Ben builds a bridge for the return journey..

So that is where I've been!.. Now for the update:

Despite our attention being elsewhere, things have been progressing along really well with the kids 'miracle house' project. We have put a deposit down on a block of land, and are awaiting settlement- more info to come..!
 Every week there is donations continuing to come in to build the new house, as well as many different fundraising ideas and events.
So far over $35, 000 has been raised in 6 months! Thank you *very* much to all those who have got behind us- it is hard to say thank you to you all, but we are very grateful..

Thanks especially to the lovely people at the Salvation Army Church in Orange for their overwhelming support and generosity! Thanks also to Kathy and Stuart of Collaroy for hosting the recently successful High Tea Fundraiser, and all those who attended and donated at that event! Big thanks also to St Faiths Anglican Church in Narabeen for their support, and especially to David and Carol, and all of our family- you have all been so encouraging.
Just like the tree out the back, things are stirring... Spring is coming, and hope is in the air!

Our Golden Elm waking up!