Holly's Story

Ourlives changed dramatically on Saturday May 21, 1994 when finally, aftermany years of waiting and filling in forms, we were to be the proudparents of two girls. Shauna was 10 and Holly 4 when they came into ourlives.

It was not an easy time for any of us. The girls suddenlyhad a new Mum and Dad and we had two beautiful girls to look after andlove.

The years progressed with Shauna attending primary schooland Holly starting preschool and loving it. We were taking Holly toParramatta each week for early intervention until we could change overto a service in Campbelltown, closer to home. We started to take Hollyto many different therapists. She eventually learnt to talk, thanks toa lot of help from videos of the Wiggles (a children's band), which wewould watch over and over again, with Holly singing and dancing her wayaround the house.

The year Shauna went to high school was alsothe year that Holly started at "Big School". She was so excited to havea uniform like her big sister. I worked in the Bankstown area so Hollystarted in an "IO" (special education) class at a local primary schoolwhere she stayed for 2 years. It wasn't an ideal setting for our sweetlittle girl who
was picked on and had her lunch stolen by lots of students including fellow members of the "IO" class.

Afriend had two nephews who went to Mater Dei and suggested we contactthe school. So we rang them and had an interview with Mrs PamelaTempleton (Assistant Principal). We were delighted when our gorgeousblonde haired, timid year 6 girl was offered a place at Mater Dei.

Hollystarted in an all girl class with Mrs Shannon Stanizzo where she made anew friend, Deanna, who just happened to have a brother in year 7 atMater Dei. Paul went home and told his Mum about this cute girl who hadjust started at his school and how he was going to marry her one day!Well they are still close friends and have visions of spending theirlife together.

On November 11, 1997 we received a phone callfrom our Burnside case worker to say our adoption application for thegirls had been rubber stamped by the magistrate that morning. Wow, theexcitement and the emotions were running very high that day. I was ableto ring Shauna at her school and explain to the principal what hadhappened and they put her on the phone to me; she was so excited andcried. We told Holly when she came home from school. She was excited"cause no-one can take me away from Mum and Dad now".

We couldsee Holly thriving in the safe and secure environment at Mater Dei, aplace where she could be her self and had many friends who accepted herfor who she was. She was able to work to the best of her ability and ather pace with extremely supportive teachers and teacher's assistants.

Wewere so thrilled when Holly was elected School Captain for 2008. Shethrived on being able to represent her school at various functions. Weattended a World Youth Day event at St Scholastica's College at Glebeand who stood up and spoke in front of a room full of Pilgrims and theArchbishop of South Africa? Our Holly. We were so proud of her. Yes shemade a few stumbles, but the Pilgrams encouraged her, cheering andclapping. What an achievement for this young lady who only a few yearsbefore wasn't able to speak to any individual that she wasn't familiarwith.

This year Holly attended Mater Dei's Satellite Class atJohn Therry High School for 3 days per week. This has really helped herself-confidence. For her work placement Holly has been working in apre-school and has just loved being with the children and helping them.This is what Holly does best, helps people. She has great patience. Shecomes home each Friday and talks about the children and what they havedone that day. Recently Holly has started Ten Pin Bowling with SpecialOlympics on a Saturday afternoon. This has turned out to be a realsocial occasion, meeting up with current students and past-studentsfrom Mater Dei, as they compete in tournaments and have a wonderfultime.

Holly graduated from Mater Dei in 2008 and started atMacarthur Disability Services in February 2009. This was a big changefor all of us, with Holly going from being a schoolgirl into living inthe big wide world.

Thank you to all the Mater Dei teachers,teacher's assistants, taxi-drivers, office staff and students for thewonderful encouragement that they have always given to Holly. Mater Deihas given Holly the opportunity to participate in a whole new area oflearning and to develop skills that will stay with her for the rest ofher life.

- Karen Levers