Family Trip Well Deserved

Illawarra Mercury

Saturday September 6, 2008

By MICHELLE HOCTOR

THE Carson children of Figtree don't need Superman as a role model - their dad Peter is a hero by any standard.

The quiet father of three has kept the family buoyed despite setbacks that would have challenged most people.

Tomorrow, Mr Carson will celebrate Father's Day with his exuberant, young brood, while planning the family holiday of a lifetime, courtesy of the KidzWish Foundation.

Mr Carson, 46, received a shock Father's Day awakening in 1997 when his wife Felicia went into early labour with their first child, Caitlin.

Caitlin was three months premature and later diagnosed with cerebral palsy that has left her permanently confined to a wheelchair and with sight impairment and learning difficulties.

Shortly after third-born Jacinta's arrival eight years ago, Mrs Carson began suffering debilitating symptoms that were later diagnosed as muscular dystrophy.

The degenerative illness has made it hard for her to perform the simplest tasks, calling on Mr Carson to combine working 12-hour, around-the-clock shifts at Metal Manufactures with household jobs and meeting his children's special needs.

A year ago, Mr Carson's parents Brian and Janice moved in when the elder Mr Carson was diagnosed with advanced dementia.

Through it all, Mr Carson has made sure his three children, who attend Figtree Public School, never miss out on an opportunity.

"We're going on a school camp and Dad has taken time off work to take me," Caitlin said.

"He's a good dad. He works very hard."

"If I had enough money, for Father's Day I would have bought him a train," Jacinta added, speaking of her dad's neglected passion for model trains.

The family, who have had only one weekend away in the past six years, have reason to celebrate after being chosen for a KidzWish family holiday to the Gold Coast, spending five nights at Sea World Resort with $1000 spending money.

"The kids had been saying for ages, 'Let's go to Queensland! Let's go to Queensland', but it's such a big logistical thing," Mr Carson said.

"And then we were told we won the holiday - it was wonderful."

Caitlin's teacher's assistant Janette Stone nominated the family for the prize.

"They are a very deserving family for this holiday because we all know how hard they work," Mrs Stone said.

© 2008 Illawarra Mercury

Back to News Index | Back to Home