FEEL-GOOD FACTOR
When Tash Vruink gave birth to her first child Jaxon at 21, she was living in Spain. She’d been a successful gymnast and was a national diving champ for five years, with a goal of using her love of sport as a career.
So when her son, now 12, wasn’t feeding properly or reaching for his toys, and was uninterested in people, Tash’s world changed.
“We knew something wasn’t right and came back to New Zealand, where he was eventually diagnosed with developmental dyspraxia, then autism and ADHD,” the 33-year-old tells.
Megan – who also has daughter Mercedes, five, and three-year-old son Phoenix – came on board as an ambassador for Cure Kids three years ago and was last year told Jaxon has polymicrogyria, a form of brain damage that can lead to seizures. Diagnosed through an MRI, it showed the energetic young boy’s brain hadn’t formed properly.
“It made sense to me because he has respiratory problems and cerebral palsy, and since his condition is across the front of his brain, it affects his behaviour and judgement.”
Although Jaxon doesn’t like environments with too much sensory information, his confidence has bloomed thanks to Cure Kids, which invited him to distribute medals at its annual fundraising sports quest Great Adventure Race.
“It made him feel important and has been good for his confidence as he’s not a social person and doesn’t like going out.”
When Tash isn’t busy caring for her kids, ensuring Jaxon is closely monitored any time he eats so that he doesn’t choke, she’s studying physiotherapy full-time. She admits, “Even though my life seems really busy, the more you have on your plate, the more organised you become!”
Feeling glamorous after a morning’s hair and make-up session, Tash laughs as she attempts to balance a red nose on her face, admiring the array of dresses lined up for the day’s shoot.
“As mums of kids with disabilities, you put so much time, energy and focus into them, and making sure they’re OK, but you never treat yourself,” she says. “It’s been nice hanging out with other mums going through similar yet very different things with their children.”