I have always tried to avoid being overtly political, it just never seemed to be in my nature. But then again I never thought that I could or would ever challenge other people. But after 11 years of advocating for Alex its also hard to remember being the meek and mild person that I was.

Up until now all my challenges have been for Alex. And I have never been afraid to ask for things for Alex, somehow doing what was needed for him made me able to swallow my pride. But as Peter said to me the other day, you can't eat pride.

My answer to him was that while that was true, it did let me sleep at night. But this past week I haven't slept. Not just because I have been caring for Alex but because I was afraid.

There is a lot more detail in what has been going on in my life in the links below. But my gut reaction has been to refuse the surgery until I had appropriate care for Alex, and the way things were going that might take a while because while individuals around me cared it seemed that the government and certainly the "powers that be" didn't. Plus everything that could go wrong was going wrong. From the little to large.

When it got to the point that I was needing to ask individuals and charities to make donations towards the cost of caring for Alex I was humiliated and ashamed. It was one thing to accept help from the government, to use the money people had already paid in taxes towards the cost of loving and value people like Alex. It was another to "double dip" by asking them to make an additional donation.

I kept asking myself "why fight", what was the point in prolonging the inevitable? One day I would eventually die anyway, whether that be in a 10 days or in 10 years. And when that happened there would be no one left to care for Alex. If I was having this much difficulty getting Alex's basic needs met (basic for Alex), then what hope did Alex have? There is no way that he could ever fight the system like I have been forced to. And without continual help Alex will surely die, why not let it happen today instead of in 10, 20, 60 years time?

But then another dear friend said that I was buying time to change things, to try and ensure a future for Alex. For the last 11 years it hasn't been my nature to give up the fight for Alex, even when the going has gotten very tough. And this fight isn't for me - its for Alex.

I thought at first I was asking for donations for me, for me to have the surgery. But really I'm not. I am asking for Alex, and for the 40,000 other sole parents here in Australia who may one day be in the same position that I am.

And so once again I am asking for donations, so that I can have the surgery yes, but its also for Alex. And all I can say in that regard is - he is worth it. And I promise that I will continue on with the fight for justice for our children.

If you would like to make a donation please click on the link and make the donation through the secure facilities of Paypal. If you would like to know more background then follow the links

Respite Care Issues.

This is the letter that I sent to most media outlets in NSW, Australia. I then followed up with telephone calls. Channel 7's current affairs program, Today Tonight, has been the only one to respond. They will be taping a segment next week which I then hope that they will put to air.

The Child Support Agency and Alex's Father.

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