Trainer won’t let illness put living on hold
NICOLE Child spent a long time lying on the couch, feeling empty.
But the thought of her 13year- old daughter seeing her that way spurred her on to make something of herself.
And the 36- year- old cerebral palsy sufferer now pours all her energy into running fitness classes for seniors at the Rasmussen PCYC.
“I used to hide away from people but I can’t do that anymore. I need to show people what I can do,” Nicole said. “And if I can do it, they can.”
Nicole was born at home in Cloncurry but she came into the world with her umbilical cord around her neck and struggled for oxygen.
Six months later, she was diagnosed with cerebral palsy.
“I had a fist I couldn’t open and I didn’t walk until I was two, then I had occupational therapy when I was five,” she said. “After that I had a fantastic childhood. “I was a normal child. “I used to ride bikes, walk, run and play sport.”
The family moved to Townsville when Nicole was 13.
Things started to go downhill when Nicole’s mum died two days before her 31st birthday.
Grief set in and that’s when her life ground to a halt.
When she picked herself back up she studied personal training and became a trainer.
“I wanted to show my daughter she could do any- thing,” she said. “I can everything physically.”
Nine months ago, life threw another curveball Nicole’s way when her speech began to fail.
The realisation that her symptoms could get worse has hit Nicole hard.
“I’ve no idea what the future looks like,” she said.
“My speech makes it harder to teach but I just try to stay positive. “The oldies help a lot. “That’s why I keep going. “I want to build strength in the people I teach so as they get older they can still get out of bed and have a life.” do