KATIE Trotter will be 12 next month and it will be a day of family celebration. Shes a special girl who over the past five years has been a pupil at the Lighthouse Trust Summer School and, according to her dad Bob, the experience has been a joy.
Katie was hit by a respiratory bug when she was four and a half months old. Her lungs collapsed and she had to be flown to Glasgow on a life-support machine. She took multiple bleeds on the left side of her brain and became hemiplegic. This resulted in the right hand side of her little body being severely weakened. The brain damage had devastating results, leaving Katie unable to live life as do her able-bodied friends.
The family have done everything possible to give Katie an opportunity to improve her condition and that includes conductive education developed by Andras Peto in Hungary, a type of education developed mainly for children and young people with cerebral palsy in order to develop their potential physically, socially and intellectually.
This is the 19th year of this unique school, based in Donaghadee, Co Down, where in July and August children face the challenge of everyday life with the help of summer-school staff, volunteers and families. Bob and his wife Lorna are very involved as is their 14-year-old daughter Hannah.
Hannah doesnt see disability, she sees children. Shes devoted to Katie, indeed she intends making a career in special needs.
July is for teenagers and in August its the turn of the younger children to have fun during intensive days of exercises designed to assist co-ordination. Its made a big difference, Katie has come on physically and mentally. Wed given up on her walking but one day, on the last day of the school, Marianne said, Ive a surprise, stay there.
"She disappeared out of the room only to come back a few minutes later holding Katies hand and our daughter was walking. We cried; we were overwhelmed and it was the beginning of some independence for our daughter. She still needs to walk holding hands for balance and although we use a wheelchair, she likes to leave it behind and be as self-reliant as possible.
One of the delights of Donaghadee is the attitude of the local people. Joan Bruton, from Co Kildare and instrumental in setting up the school, has long experience as her son Thomas has been a pupil since its inception.
Twenty-five-year-old Thomas will be at this years summer school as hed working towards his Gold Gaisce Award, the Republic's equivalent of the Duke of Edinburgh Award.
Often when were out and our son is in his wheelchair he might as well be invisible but in Donaghadee people want to talk to him they want to concentrate on the children so our outings are always special. Were a small organisation carefully managed with trustees, a management committee, qualified staff, two senior assistants, a caterer, volunteers and, of course, the families.
"We all work together as a team, knowing theres no cure for cerebral palsy but determined to promote confidence and self-esteem by working on the childrens potential whilst recognising their limitations."
Strict child protection is guaranteed with staff, volunteers and parents all being checked out. This means events and visits can be undertaken safely and usually its up to the pupils to choose what to do, it could be ice skating, sailing, barbecuing perhaps open air theatre in the walled garden in Bangor or a visit from an illusionist, always popular!
The Church of Ireland parish hall is the centre for around 18 children from all parts of Ireland. Here every aspect of their day is educational including eating out, sitting at the table, toileting, art or speech therapy and all these are models for the families to carry on this education at home or in special needs classes for the rest of the year.
Therapists from Clifton School in Bangor where Katie is a pupil also attend the summer school. It costs 1,000 for the four-week school tuition, with parents being responsible for finding accommodation often grants and sponsorship help with the cost. But above all, fundraising is vital in order to keep the school open with places available for the pupils.
Bob Trotter is an avid fundraiser, an expert at car boot sales who laments that BBC Children in Need used to give a donation but not any more. Undoubtedly the summer school is close to his heart and he loves telling people about the Lighthouse Trust and Katies progress.
Shes the happiest wee child, he says. Her motor skills have improved, from gross motor skills like holding a large ball, to fine skills, like holding a spoon between her thumb and finger. At one time Katie would shuffle across the floor on her bottom banging into anything in her way, now thanks to this conductive education she can calculate where she is and what to do.
"Theres no doubt, like her school colleagues, when she makes progress physically, stretching muscles and stimulating the brain, she makes progress mentally. A remarkable and valuable summer school. Absolutely marvellous.
:: More information about this charity and booking details at lighthouse-trust.org.
