Touchstone Volume 26 1706_Touchstone_Winter_Web Version | Page 8
REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT
Hugh’s time to shine
Hugh Jensen is ticking off goals with CPL.
When Michelle Jensen talks about her son Hugh, she reflects
that she “doesn’t know where we would be” without the
support of CPL.
“Hugh’s got a rare genetic disorder and it was all very
confronting when we were first told, because no one could tell
us more about it,” Michelle, Hugh’s mum, explained.
“When Hugh was first diagnosed, I was running from
one place to another seeing speech therapists and
physiotherapists, it was chaos. I didn’t want to travel, I wanted
to focus on Hugh.
“Someone recommended CPL and I am so grateful. Everything
was under the one roof; it was one place and one team. I
would be lost without them,” she said.
Hugh has been seeing
CPL’s Allied Health team in
Toowoomba for six months
and Michelle explained
that Hugh is making great
progress so far.
“
Hugh has really just
come ahead and I know
it’s because of the
team at CPL.
”
We have seen so much
improvement since starting
therapy.
“I have to give myself credit
too but they’ve been so
helpful with things to do
at home. They have also
worked with his day care to
make sure his environments
are streamlined to support
his therapy goals.”
At 21 months, Hugh is an
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Touchstone Winter 2017
active toddler who loves
everything he can get his
hands on.
When he isn’t out riding his
bike, Hugh can be found in
the backyard with his dog,
Charlie, helping his dad
with the vegetable garden,
or playing with the clocks
around the house.
Reflecting on the last few
months, Anna said, “CPL’s
Toowoomba team are just so
accommodating.
“I hate hearing people label
children with disabilities,
the team at CPL treat Hugh
as Hugh - as an individual,
not a diagnosis, and it’s so
important to me,” she said.
“It’s a community, it’s so
connected and you feel such
a part of it, it’s not just an
appointment at 3.30pm.
“We celebrate each goal
together and when Hugh
started walking after
Christmas, we got excited
and cried together too,
because we’ve all seen him
grow.”
For Michelle, the support
CPL offers has also extended
beyond Hugh and become a
vital part of their everyday
life.
“Not only are they
supporting Hugh in his
growth and development
but they are also supporting
me,” she said.
“A while back, I had a really
down day. We had therapy in
the afternoon and I missed
my appointment, I had just
completely forgotten.
“I raced across town and
just cried when I got there.