Life for Max has been an uphill battle so far, but this little guy is definitely taking it all in his stride.
For Max, who turns four this week, much of his life has been spent in and out of hospitals or at specialist appointments.
Max was born with a complex genetic bone condition that means he needs weekly physio, speech therapy and daily play sessions and the wearing of hearing aids.
When the time came for Max to start early childhood learning, his parents, Sarbjit Ladher and Renee Cotchin, decided on Macedon Ranges Montessori Pre-school in Riddells Creek.
Ms Cotchin says Max was born with spondylocarpotarsal synostosis syndrome, a disorder that affects the development of bones.
“He has lower leg weakness, which means, as he’s been getting older, he doesn’t use his legs like other children,” she said.
“This means when we were choosing an early childhood group, I had to get to know the staff at the pre-school, and they were all really great.
“I felt comfortable there and I could see the effort that they put in was 100 per cent.”
But the old school building had no provisions for Max’s walker, so Ms Cotchin would carry him up the stairs and into the classroom – until last year, when Macedon Ranges council funded a new ramp to improve accessibility.
“There was an old ramp, but mostly I would carry Max up the stairs with his walker,” she said.
“The new ramp makes life so much easier for us and it also means that Max is more confident to move around the playground – he’s getting a lot faster these days.
“Max is a very happy kid and he’s got a quirky personality.
“He loves superheroes as much as the next kid and he makes plenty of friends, so it was important for his independence to be able to get in and out of the building by himself.”
Macedon Ranges Montessori Pre-school committee secretary Maria Kirkby says that of the pre-school’s 61 pupils, Max is the only one who uses a walker and that without the council grant, money for the ramp would have been tough to raise, despite the pre-school community’s efforts such as an annual fete, Easter hot-cross bun drive, sausage sizzles and bake sales.
“There are 50 families connected with the school community, so it is very close-knit,” Ms Kirkby said.
Hot-cross bun order forms are available at Macedon Ranges Montessori Pre-school or inquiries@macedonrangesmontessori.com.au.
