About Me

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I am a mother of 3 beautiful children. My girls are aged 9 & 5. My son Jaise would now be 3, however he will always be my baby boy because on 27.09.2010 he found his way into a NON comoliant backyard pool on a rental property in NSW while we were on holidays. He was air lifted to John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle and was put on life support. He has numerous tests including Xrays, MRI, CT scans and brain surgery over the next 2 days. Sadly he lost his battle and became a water angel at 10.30am September 29th 2010 aged 25 months.

10 January 2016

Frustration - I'm getting used to it

It's been a while.... I haven't written because I've wanted to escape this nightmare. Sometimes it's easier to just remember Jaise than to actively talk about what happened. 
Then I suddenly get these bursts where I have so much to say, but the words don't come out right, it's so frustrating!! 

Another Christmas has come and gone without Jaise, but there was still presents under the tree for and from him.

We spent a few weeks in QLD with my parents and enjoyed every moment of it.... Except having to go to a cemetery to visit my boy. 
The first visit at Christmas was teary, seeing so many Christmas decorations around the cemetery made me even sadder, but knowing I wasn't the only one visiting a loved one here at this time of year kinda helped, if that makes sense? 

Whenever I leave the cemetery I still ask 'why' and this time I asked my mum what I had done wrong to deserve this pain, why do my daughters have to visit their brother here, why can't we all be together? 
Mum assured me that I wasn't being punished, it was just a terrible accident and did the only thing she could do for her daughter, hug her. 

The second visit was the day we left to come home, I spent time cleaning, rearranging be fussing over all Jaise's little gifts and knick knacks that are around his grave. 
Both my girls say with me in silence, I could hear their hearts breaking even more, I didn't think this was possible. 
I said sorry to them, like I often do when they get upset, I'm sorry that I couldn't save Jaise and I'm sorry that they must live with this pain and the memories of that day forever. 

The fact is though, I have no reason to be sorry. Yes my supervision broke down that day, I had 4 children under 8 in my care, I was doing housework, I was being a mum. 

Had there been more education about water safety, had the government had legislation in place to prevent this happening in the first place, we wouldn't be sitting under a gumtree in a cemetery costing Jaise, we'd probably be at the beach or having hot chips in the park. 

So this morning on the way to work I hear the news, the headlines were '2 children drown in Sydney over the weekend' 
My hearts sank, although I should be used to hearing this news because it happens too often. 

My first thought is the poor little ones.... Followed by the realisation that the parents will be living my life now, the torment, the pain, the accusations, it's all unfair. 

I am a firm believer and advocate that if anyone neglects to secure a pool, be it portable or permanent, they should be charged. 
I'd be charged if I was speeding and drunk behind a wheel and caused a death, so why is this any different? 

I also advocate for education and awareness. 
SUPERVISION is the key to ZERO drownings, followed by compliant barriers. 
ALL children MUST be supervised in the water, wether it's a bath, pool, sea, dam or spa. 
Why isn't there active campaigns to educate the public on this? Why is CPR pushed so much to save children when that should be the last resort? Sure knowing CPR is valuable but the success of CPR is very very low! 

Then there's swimming lessons, the thorn in my side! 
YES, kids should know how to swim, but that won't always save their lives. 
Jaise fell into a freezing cold pool, he was asthmatic and fully dressed, he had no chance at saving himself. 
 
My biggest concern and the thing that angers me the most is the fact that the NSW government still has multiple rules for pools..... There should be ONE RULE FOR ALL POOLS!!! 
Why is it ok to have no fence on a pool that was built in 1989 yet if a pool is installed today, it must comply to different rules? 

So tonight you will all watch the news and learn about these recent tragedies. You will be saddened and you will sympathise, but I ask you PLEASE do not judge the parents without the facts. 
Remember when swimming, bathing and enjoying water activities SUPERVISE children! 
I don't want you to have to walk this path alongside my family and I 


23 October 2012

Tuesday, 23rd October 2012

Today is a milestone in my life that I will never forget.
Tuesday, 23rd October 2012 is the day the NSW government officially recognized my hard work, tears and most importantly, my son Jaise.

NSW Pool Laws changed today and Jaise's Law was acknowledged by Minister Don Page through his media release and now Jaise's Legacy is in place.

If it wasn't for my beautiful little man, I wouldn't have pushed with every emotion I had, to have these laws changed. It is more than likely these changes would still be 'in the piplines'.

As I sit on the lounge now watching my daughters play and watch some TV, I can't help but feel sad.
Don't get me wrong, I'm very very happy with what today has bought, but also heartbroken because my little Jaise had to die to make these changes possible.

I have some advice for everyone out there...
Firstly never waste time worrying about the little things. Cherish every moment you have with your friends and loved ones.

Take photos!! Take photos of everything and everyone. Memories are precious and I am glad I took so many photos... Because one day my girls may not remember everything about Jaise, luckily I have plenty of photos for them.
If you ever feel strongly about ANYTHING, then you need to fight for it. Ask fr help if you need it and do not give up!! My fight is proof that if you want something bad enough you can achieve it!

I leave you tonight with these last words....

Watch your children in and around the water.
NEVER leave a child unattended in a bath, pool, dam, beach or any other body of water.
Dont prop open pool gates or intentionally tamper with the fencing or locks.
If it needs fixing, FIX it, dont put it off because thats death waiting for a victim.
Lasty, never EVER leave an older child in charge of younger chidren around water.

23 September 2012

Changes on the Horizon....

Its been a while since I have posted anything on here.... why?
I have been trying to get my children and myself back to some sort of normal life.
I have focused purely on my immediately family & friends to help get us in a better place.
While we have been on thus journey though I have been advocating with Kat and Andrew Plint from Hannah's Foundation to have Jaises Law passed in NSW.

Today this was shared on Jaise's Law on Facebook... http://www.facebook.com/#!/JaisesLaw



NSW Parliament speech by Tanya Davies MP:

Mrs TANYA DAVIES (Mulgoa) [1.05 p.m.]: I congratulate the Minister for Local Government, Mr Donald Page, and the O'Farrell Government on their action to protect toddlers from harm in backyard pools by introducing new legislation to ensure backyard pools comply with regulations. There are approximately 340,000 backyard swimming pools within New South Wale...
s. Whilst swimming pools offer exercise and enjoyment, they also can be a silent killer if young children are not constantly supervised and pool fencing is non-compliant. It is unacceptable that New South Wales is over-represented in statistics on national backyard swimming pool drownings. On average six children drown in private swimming pools in New South Wales each year. This figure has remained constant over the past 15 years. Last week the Minister for Local Government announced a plan to introduce this legislation, stating:

… children's safety is paramount and very young children are most at risk. Every child drowning is a tragedy to families and communities, not least because it is preventable through ensuring responsible supervision and complaint barriers.

Such tragedy was brought to my attention by Kelly Taylor, a resident of Queensland. Whilst on a holiday to visit her family in New South Wales, Kelly rented a holiday home where her two-year-old son Jaise lost his life after drowning in a pool that had a non-compliant pool fence. Kelly shared her personal and painful story in the hope that governments would change legislation to ensure Jaise's death was not in vain. She said:

Jaise drowned in NSW at a rental property in which relatives were able to rent. Little did they or myself know that the pool in their yard was a killer which robbed me of my son and our family …

That day lives with my every breath, every day of my life and has further traumatised my daughters …

I speak for the safety of children, the safety of the community and most of all my campaign as personal and raw as it has been is now a partial reality that Jaise's story has been heard. His death will not be in vain and I ask the NSW Parliament to make a mention of Jaise's Law in regards to pool safety and rental properties compulsory certification and public pool register in his memory and I will continue with this to save more children's lives.

Together the Parliament, the community and tragic stories such as my son's death can help save others the pain and anguish that I now have to suffer every day because I visited your state on holidays and went to a house with a non compliant rental pool property. Jaise should still be here if people, builders and councils would have upheld the laws in which they were bound by.

I just wish everyday that my son Jaise was still here with me, these laws when passed will show that my son's death wasn't in vain and I hope and know that future lives will be saved.

Kindest Regards,
Kelly Taylor—Jaise's Mummy

Andrew and Katherine Plint, the founders of Hannah's Foundation, began a national day of drowning prevention awareness and support after the drowning death of their daughter Hannah on 4 October 2007. That day is dedicated to remembering loved ones lost to drowning and as a day of awareness to prevent such needless loss of life. The incidence of drownings is preventable with full-time supervision and compliant barriers. The proposed legislation is not and will not replace the absolute necessity for constant supervision of babies, toddlers and young children around pools or bodies of water, including melted ice in eskies after a party or the water in nappy buckets.

I urge all caregivers to ensure constant supervision of children at all times—not just in the spring and summer seasons when swimming tends to be more popular but all year round. I also urge pool owners to embrace this legislation and ensure their pool infrastructure is compliant. Having met Kelly Taylor and having worked with her and the Minister for Local Government over the past 12 months to strengthen the pool fence compliance legislation, I consider today a great day because we are changing the legislation to ensure, as much as governments can, that our children are safe and protected. Legislated measures cannot take the place of a caregiver's constant supervision. When using the word "supervise" I like to refer to the phrase "use your super eyes" to remind people to watch toddlers and young children. I thank the Minister for Local Government and the Government for introducing the proposed legislation and I commend the bill to the House.

28 December 2011

2012 - The year of CHANGES

We will see the new year in with my eldest daughters 10th birthday, yes she was a NYE baby!
While she is so excitied about turning 10, I have to put my 'mask' on for her sake and enjoy the day with her.
Don't get me wrong, I want to & I will enjoy the day with her and my other daughter, but it just feels so wrong doing all these things without Jaise.
He loved cake, he loved to play outside, he loved baloons and he would have LOVED to celebrate his big Sissy's 10th birthday with her!

So today I am putting some goals into place for 2012.
I am starting my letter today.
Most of you have no idea what I am talking about, but one lady who has been my rock and strength since Jaise had his accident, knows how important this particular letter is to me, my daughters, Jaise and the rest of the country.
You will all read the letter, eventually, and I know most of you will support me!

My letter will take me a while, as I am hand writing it, something no one does anymore and it will be written through many tears but this is my main goal for 2012.

I have decided to rename 2012 - to me it will be the year of CHANGES!!!!
Keep watching!!!

Cherish your life and loved ones

Christmas has come and gone for another year, my second without Jaise and this one was harder than the first without him. I have so many unanswered questions, thoughts of 'what if' 'if only' 'I should've and so on. I struggle to move on with my everyday task because I keep asking 'WHY?' WHY is my little boy in a cemetry, not here with me. I know he is not hurting anymore and has escaped the cruelty of this world but I want him here with me. I miss him, I want to see him play with his sisters again, I want to trip on his cars he leaves laying around, I want to change his nappies and look after him. To all those out there that waste their time worrying about petty issues, disputes or problems.... Stop! Life is short and once a life is gone, that's it, it's over. There is no 'reset' or 'rewind'. Before you go to bed at night think hard about your life, is it really that bad? Should you really have lashed out at that person? Did you call that person that's been on your mind just to say 'hi'? Never leave the house angry at your loved ones, kiss your children goodnight and TELL them you love them, even if they are asleep... Cause there may not be a next time.

06 December 2011

Dont put this letter on YOUR wishlist for Christmas!!!

Instead of getiing Christmas cards in the mail this Christmas, have a look at what I got today!!
Dont put this letter on YOUR wishlist for Christmas!!!