GENTLE MUSIC www.able.co.nz Captions were made possible with funding from NZ On Air. Copyright Able 2015 OVERLAPPING CHATTER There's not many people around like Charlotte and myself who have all four limbs affected by some form of disability. So it's really cool that we've been able to reconnect, and I've been able to help her out with a few things. Yeah. Now you can move all of a sudden, eh. (CHUCKLES) 'Cameron Leslie and myself, you know, for Charlotte, you know, we can be role models to her.' We're totally comfortable with who we are and where we wanna go. I'll race you, Charlotte! Charlotte's leavin' me in the dust! 'Not being able to do the basics is really annoying. 'I just want to be independent.' And I just wanna do everything for myself. MAN: Yeah! Charlotte is such an extraordinary person, and such a significant challenge. We wanna see her... do well and thrive in her own life. INSPIRING MUSIC BIRDS TWITTER Morning, Charlotte. Hello. Move. Come on. (SIGHS) She's 11 now, and she's got no qualms about who she is, how she is, how she does it. Come on. Yeah. This is her first year of year seven, and most kids are just off doing their thing, whereas Charlotte needs to be set up and having the tools in place for her to do her things. That's the careful thing about having a high-needs and catering for everything is that, um,... they don't even` they haven't even been taught how to do it themselves. Like, this is lemon. I drink lemon every morning to keep me healthy. OK, get up, do breakfast, do the lunch. I get` prepare breakfast so Charlotte can come and have breakfast. I go and get her. Rushing and stressful and lots of, 'Come on, Charlotte!' 'Charlotte, eat your breakfast.' 'Charlotte, what have we got on today? 'What's your subjects?' I don't know. We're tired. We get up at... I would be more tired than you. And I'm 50 now. And because of days upon days upon weeks upon months upon years, you just get to a 10-year exhausted, sort of, place. OK, let's feed the dog. SOFT PIANO MUSIC Part of my journey as the parent of Charlotte is, you know, I still long for those limbs that she lost. In June in 2004, she woke up suddenly, 3 o'clock in the morning. Just had a massive temperature and vomited, and she had a really weird whimper. I gave her some paracetamol and she went back to sleep ` what I thought was sleep, but what it was was toxic shock. I looked at her and I looked close, and I saw a blood splatter on her neck. And I just lifted her out and we ran to the medical centre. I just ran in there and said, um, 'My baby's dying of meningitis.' So after she had been put in intensive care, the team of surgeons, they were just crazy, lumbar-puncturing this small baby. It's tremendously confronting, and you're helpless and hopeless to do anything. PIANO MUSIC CONTINUES If you have septic blood, it comes through all your flesh and burns through all your flesh to the surface of your skin, forms blisters. The limbs had to die before us. It started off on her hands, and it just worked its way up. After about two weeks, it was just black. And until it had come to its final stage of depletion is where they knew where to amputate the dead pieces off. She went to war as a baby with bacteria, and she won, but she came back an amputee. Yes! Yes! (GROWLS PLAYFULLY) > I had to remove my own guilt of this horrific event. Because she was so happy and bubbly, and she was showing me to shape up, basically, because she was. She didn't know any more or less. We just gave her heaps of love. And I wanted to create everything to make it right. Not only just the repair of Charlotte, but we wanted to educate NZ around it. We wanted no other child to suffer from that. ...fit well on you. Charlotte, just relax for us. Well, it's been hard, but it's been in her life for so long now. We've already discussed that it's part of her life, and she needs to be doing it in order to get on with her life. And so however long that takes is however long we'll be doing it. She, um, needs somebody on a daily basis. But I want her to be in a position where she can do her own buttons up and dress herself and tie her shoelaces and tie her hair up. Mum's gotta get me dressed now. It's part of the routine. Some of the things that I should be letting Charlotte do is basically all her transfers and things. It's just the time requirements it takes to get you to places, it's just easier to, sort of, do it for her and help her along, you know? Be fabulous! I don't think she has that long-term thoughts. She just does her days in the happiest way possible. I'm gonna wear the lip balm. I don't know how it's gonna look for Charlotte in the future. We just have to wait and see. ACOUSTIC GUITAR My name's Cameron. I'm 25 years old. I live in Auckland, NZ, with my girlfriend. I like doing things for myself. I guess you could say I'm fiercely independent in some ways. I've achieved plenty in my life, sporting-wise and outside of the pool. I've won two Paralympic gold medals. I've worked full-time. But, for me, the most satisfying thing is just fitting into the world. I was born without limbs. From an early age, Mum and Dad pushed me to be independent. There was lots of tough love. Over the years, I've had many different types of prosthetics. For me, when I was growing up, I didn't have someone who was missing limbs to be a mentor, as such. So for me to be able to do that now, and hopefully it can make Charlotte's life a little bit easier, um, going through the years that she is, cos they're tough years. Hey! Hi. How are ya? Good. Get your new legs today? Yeah. I'm really excited. I mean, like, I want to be happy with my legs, and I hope that I won't grow out of them fast, cos I really grow so fast. I hope I can do everything in them. PAM: I'm just looking at her physical at the moment, her fitness, and make sure she doesn't put on too much weight. BANGING So the only thing we can do is just go hard with the legs and get her walking, walking, walking and perhaps running. And have her mentors on call, telling her, 'Come on, Charlotte.' Because they're doing it themselves. She's got that soft tissue in the sockets there. There's a small gap, which I think` ...you can get rid of. ...we can get rid of, yes. What is it gonna mean when you are, sort of, walking and able to use these new legs you've got? Then I can show off to all my mates. Why do you wanna do that? Cos I can just, like, say, 'I can finally walk.' < Is it a case of keeping up with them now? You can go running with them and`? Yeah. Cos I don't really like cops and robbers, but, like, once I get those blades I may be able to play cops and robbers. OK, we can look at getting you up there, Charlotte. (EXHALES) There you go. What we might do is get you over to the rails. So we'll just get you to... We'll bounce our way over. Are you OK? Can I take these off? Hm? So, what's it like when you just stand there, just with Mum gently holding your hands? It feels like they're gonna fall off. CAMERON: Charlotte's at an awkward sort of spot with her legs, trying to get sockets to fit. And she's young, so she's growing fast, so she grows out of them before they're even finished, and then it's back to square one. It's quite a frustrating time for her, really. Just get it rocking from side to side first. Yeah. > Let's just do this. I've already done that before. Well, you can do it and sorta get into that stance` I already know how to do that. Charlotte, we need to sort of go back and forth, and then you can make some steps forward, OK? Let's go. CAMERON: I think it's hard for an 11-year-old to think of the bigger picture. Charlotte's gonna need to have a strong core to help her walk in a good position while she's wearing her prosthetics. And just find her balance, where her body's at, training the muscles to work in a certain way and to stay in that good position for as long as possible. In terms of Charlotte's previous walking experiences, um, what has`? Cos she's been on stubbies quite a bit, I know, but has she been on anything with a knee or anything like that? It's too hard. You know how hard it is with knees. And you're an Olympian swimmer with fitness of A+. Wasn't always an Olympian swimmer, though. No. But, um, you were able to stand prone because you had` your two ends were perfectly` they were never amputated, they were perfectly round. So your muscles were, you know, like, they all connected. Whereas once you chop through muscle and things like that, the ends of your legs are sensitive to weight bearing. Let's just have a little walk there. Stop. They're too small. Well, you know, we've been here three hours and now you're saying the sockets are too small. This is, like, 10 years' worth, and we're still not there. (SIGHS) ACOUSTIC GUITAR MUSIC MUSIC CONTINUES I'm going over to Waiheke Island to see Charlotte. Her friend Cameron Clapp has come over from the United States. The goal is for him to show Charlotte how he operates from day to day. CICADAS CHIRP Cameron's a professional mentor, so it's a good opportunity for me to pick his brain as to how I can help Charlotte better. Cheers, man. Cheers, bro. So, what is that you like about mentoring, man? You know, what I think is really important about mentoring is being able to be an example to others, and to show that anything is possible, especially with being able to be comfortable in your own skin and build your confidence, and just be... happy with yourself. Um, and then just, you know, be able to continue to move forward in your life. I had injuries due to a run-in with a freight train when I was 15 years old. I lost three limbs ` two legs above the knees and my right arm almost to the shoulder. And so my whole world was turned upside down, and I had this new experience of being a disabled person. And I never looked at myself as a person with limitations. You know, I just had to learn how to adapt myself to the world, um, not adapt the world to me. Are there any pointers you'd have for me to help Charlotte get up and moving and that sort of thing? Because it's all new to me, and I do wanna see her do well. I do wanna make a difference to her in her life, I guess. Yeah. I think it's real important when working with another amputee, being there with them and showing them what you can do physically, you know, and how you've adapted your situation, how you live your life in each moment of the day. One thing that does worry me with Charlotte is when things aren't working and how to help with that. Like, most kids, they're only gonna wanna push it so far. And if she's saying, 'I'm tired,' or is starting to break down and cry, give her a moment, let her take a deep breath. But then, you know, it's, 'OK, Charlotte, 'let's focus on goals that you've set, the plans you've made.' It can be difficult being young and missing multiple limbs. And hopefully she can be in a place where she can just continue to be confident in herself. CAR DOORS CLOSE Yo! < Hi, man! Wassup? Hey, Cameron! Oow! Mwah! < Hey, Char! How's it goin'? < We have a plan. We're here to hang out with Charlotte a bit and do a bit of desensitisation to help with the whole stump feeling and that sort of thing, so that` Really? ...hopefully long term, the prosthetics will start to feel a bit nicer. Desensitisation? Yes. We're g` We're gonna get her up on her residual limb that she had, um, revision surgery. Yeah. Just to promote some good, like, being able to bear weight on the end of it. OK. Charlotte, this is what we're gonna do. We're gonna pop off our legs and get down on the ground. We're gonna do some work, all right? OK, so, your limbs are pretty even, right, on both sides? They're pretty even. Just. Mine is about maybe an inch longer on my left. Same. Same? K. Now, are either`? Which one is, right now, more sensitive? Your right leg? Yeah. So this is what I do. So, you can put your weight on to your elbow, and you can get up and you can distribute weight on to probably this side more. You have to get through a little bit of pain for it to actually feel better. Do you wanna show me how you do it? I just go up and then... Ow. Try to put weight on to your operational one. > That's how much weight I can put on. I'm almost lifting my whole... Almost all the way on your right side now. That's... That's a good result. Yeah. I thought it might be a bit more sensitive than that, but I think that's good. The neuroma is where, though, like, for weight bearing just on a cut bone as an amputation,... Mm-hm. ...there's no real knob on the end. You're only just, like` You've got flesh on a stick, right? OK, where? Tell me. There. There? No, there. How does it feel? Like, when you were standing on it before, what's the sensation that you're feeling? Sore. (CHUCKLES) Sore like just a little bit of pain? Bearable? A lot. I believe the more that you practise this and you do this exercise every day, I really think and believe it'll improve and get better. When we're chillin', like right now when we walked in here... Even if you're watching TV, you can get up and you can lean against the back of the couch there and just stand on the end of your limbs; you're on a soft surface. Or, like, playing iPad, leaning over the top of the couch so you're in that standing position, rather than being lying down and that sort of thing. Just little ideas to bring it into your life. < Stand up again, and I have a challenge for you. Take a nice good step with your right leg. Keep on pushing yourself. Here, now, hold on to me, K? Hold on to me and we'll go together, all right? Keep going, all right? Look at that. Up straight. Not on that bum. You're a miracle, you know that? That was fabulous. (LAUGHS) BOTH LAUGH UPBEAT ACOUSTIC GUITAR You're gonna come check out my place today, Charlotte. Yeah. I think that we should make a Captain America pizza. We'll try and make a pizza. Yeah. You'll learn how to drive one day, Charlotte. There's no reason why you couldn't do it. It's easy enough. ACOUSTIC GUITAR CONTINUES INDISTINCT CONVERSATION Can you get it in? MOTORBIKE ROARS Bloody noisy motorbikes. How do you go forward? You pull the, um... This little lever is the accelerator and brake. So it's normal hand controls. You lift it up to accelerate,... Crap! ...and then you push it to the floor to brake. So it's a bit of tweaking to get the vehicle driving for you in a comfortable manner. Yeah. Just learning how to control a car as well, cos the way that I do things freaks some people out. I mean, like, 'You've got no hands and you're trying to do this with a steering wheel? 'What are you up to? That's not safe.' (CHUCKLES) But it's` I mean, I feel in control. Yeah, well, that's it. It's your pad. Yeah, it is. It's, um,... Very cool. ...not hugely accessible, but that doesn't matter. (CHUCKLES) Two steps. I thought you said they were little. So how are we gonna do this? OK, we just... METAL SCRAPES Whoa! Hang on. I'll get the other side. (GRUNTS) Yes! This is so easy. It is, eh. So easy. Here we go. OK. Oh, oh, oh. For Charlotte to be in Cam's house, where it's not modified at all, it's a good learning curve for Char. When Charlotte's in the world and dragging enough gear around with her, she has to work out a way to use an ordinary fork or flush an ordinary toilet and all those things. I think you guys are good to go. Sweet. I'll leave you to it. And bye! And later. Does it surprise you, Charlotte, that the kitchen is... nothing's different? Like, you've gotta fit in with it. Yeah. Some people have benches that move up and down higher and lower. Oh yeah. I thought that this would be modified. (CHUCKLES) OK, um, I won't be bothered to use that. What if you went like this? See? When I'm pulling the cheese, I'm pulling it into me, and this is pushing against my body. No, I like to go out. Can you put one hand on the back and one on the front, like that? Like... Oh yeah. LID POPS Question. Yo. How do we cut up the olives without using hands? I'm gonna use my knife. Do you have a knife? Nope. Do you have a fork? Yes. Well, use your fork. But I can't. Cos, like... What if you, yeah, roll it on its side. And then... And then lined it up. Yeah. Put these on. If you can hold the tray... Oh, look at that. You can just push it forward. I'll go like this. Push forward. Two secs. FAN OVEN WHIRRS (SIGHS) (SIGHS) Should've asked do you want a fork. I'm all right. How long have you been flatting for? Since I was 18. Do you think you'll ever wanna move out of home? Um, probably when I'm 18. Do you reckon to, like, get to where you're talking about, like, wanting to live by yourself, or live in a flatting sort of thing, being that whole independence, do you reckon there's little things in your life now that you could start trying a bit harder in? Like jumping from the seat on to your chair and that sort of thing. Yeah. Just to help your mum out. Cos it's pretty tough on her. CHUCKLES: Yeah. Yeah. Just take a load off for people around you. Your mum really is a champion, eh. She helps you out with heaps. And it's cool to see. Yeah, yeah. But I reckon you could help her out too. Like a little team. (CHUCKLES) Little team. Yeah, little team. Team. She's seeing what being fully inclusive in society like Cameron Clapp and like Cameron Leslie, how much hard work that might take for her to be as able as them. Ollie! Ollie! That has been one of my dreams since I met Cameron Leslie and since I met Cameron Clapp ` to surround with all that can-do stuff. < Tina's gonna help you up, Charlotte. These are stubbies and blades. They're called junior blades. Yeah. Do you think you'll walk more in these than you did your old ones? Yeah. Shall we go over here where it's a bit flatter, not on a little hill? Where the stick is. Yeah. We'll go there. I` I feel like pushing you, cos I can. BOTH CHUCKLE Come here! (LAUGHS) What I'm paying attention to right now is, like, my core. Like, you have to be straight foot to do, like, even walks. Like, trying to tuck that belly button in. Yeah. Good, I can do this. You're walking more in them, eh. You've got a good fit finally. Yeah. You want to go on bigger legs, or you happy with these type ones? I-I'm pretty happy to be this tall. Yeah? I mean, are you? (CHUCKLES) Not really, eh. I like being tall. My goal is to tone my core and, like, get better at stuff. Be better at you in swimming, be better at you in everything. And, uh, yeah. Gonna be walking in circles, right? Yeah. I was really impressed with Charlotte walking in the park. Blew me away. I didn't expect her to be walking for as long as she was in her prosthetics. How do you know to push me when I'm there if your eyes are closed? I don't know. Wait, are you... are you cheating? No, my eyes are closed. Cameron and Cameron challenged me to do some outrageous things. But now it's time for me to challenge them. (LAUGHS) I know. BOTH: Oh my God! Whoo-hoo! How are ya? Cameron! And Cameron! We've been reunited! BOTH WHOOP Cameron and Cameron in the house! < Tell me, why do you wanna chuck us out of a plane? Cos it will be fun. ALL LAUGH Excited yet, Charlotte? Just so casual. Charlotte, time out. You better stop horsin' around. We gotta jump out of a airplane. We don't wanna get hurt. All right, gettin' geared up, gettin' suited up. I feel like a astronaut or something. (CHUCKLES) INDISTINCT CHATTER Hey, Captain! How you doin'? CAMERON LESLIE: I've really enjoyed spending more time with Charlotte. What she's got ahead of her is going to be very difficult. But I know, and I've seen, that she's got this great attitude that will take her places that she wants to go. CHARLOTTE: Having Cameron and Cameron as mentors in my life means kind of a lot, cos they taught me how to walk and run in the first place. TRIUMPHANT MUSIC CAMERON CLAPP: In this life, everybody is faced with hardships and with adversity and difficulties and challenges. And we're all one and the same with that, you know? It's a human experience. And how do you define somebody with a disability? You know, I go beyond that. I go to their soul and to their spirit, you know. And I know the human spirit's capable of overcoming any obstacles. ALL WHOOP Yeah! Whoo! LAUGHTER This is the time of our lives. See more like this on attitudelive.com Nominations for the eighth annual Attitude Awards are now open. For information and entry forms, go to... Copyright Able 2015