Reader\'s Digest AU NZ 03.2020

ILLUSTRATION:

GRACIA

LAM

FAMILY

T

hewheelchairmechanic

knocksatthedoor.My

husband,Justin,answers,

anda heftymanwearing

steel-toedshoescomes

throughourkitchencarryinga small

toolbox.It’s 2016 andI’mintheliving

room,strappingorthoticsonmyfive

yearold,Fiona.Themechanicstands

besideheremptywheelchair,which

iswaitinginthediningroom.

“Doyouneedanythingfromus?”

I callout,pulling the laces of her

shoetight.

“Justthepassenger,”hesaysgruff ly.

I hurry,andwhenFionaisalllaced

up,I lifthertoherfeetandsendher

over.Ina thump-thumprhythmof

deliberate,confidentsteps,shewalks

toherwheelchair,a lean,glimmer-

ingmachinecustom-madeforher.

Shealmostneverusesitnowthat

shewalks,butwhensheneededit

oncethispastyear,herlegslooked

cramped. So the mechanicwill

tweakit.

Helooksdownpasthisbellytomy

one-metre-tall child. Although Fiona

Asa parenttoFiona,myfive-year-olddaughter

witha raresyndrome,I spenda lotoftime

teachingotherstotreatherwith respect

Talk to

Her Like

a Person

BYHeather Lanier FROM TODAY’S PARENT

62 March 2020