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Living life her way: Helen’s story
This World Cerebral Palsy Day, we’re celebrating Helen, a much-loved...
Bohdi Adamson-Holmes and Elishah Kentwell
Rocky Bay’s Hydro Heroes is a six-week water-based therapy program led by our experienced therapists, including Advanced Clinician Physiotherapist Hayley Teeuwissen. The program helps children of all ages develop water skills and learn water safety, while also supporting movement, confidence, and communication. For two-year-old Elishah Kentwell and three-year-old Bohdi Adamson-Holmes, Hydro Heroes has made a huge difference – but their starting points with water couldn’t have been more different.
The story continues...
Before Hydro Heroes, water was one of Elishah’s biggest fears. So much so that even bathing or showering was difficult for her. “She was petrified,” her mum Gabrielle Pawley says. “We couldn’t tip water on her head to wash her hair. Her therapist had even tried water play to make it fun, but she wouldn’t go near it.”
For Bohdi, who lives with myotonic dystrophy (a form of muscular dystrophy), water was familiar from an early age.
“We have a pool at home, and Bohdi started hydrotherapy at three months old because water helps to relax his muscles,” says his mum Amber Adamson-Holmes. “When he joined Rocky Bay at seven months, he began Hydro Heroes straightaway to keep building those skills.”
How we helped
For both children, Hydro Heroes has led to remarkable improvements in physical ability and confidence in the water. Twelve months ago, Elishah, who has hypertonia, a condition that causes low muscle tone, was tube-fed, on oxygen day and night, and barely moving. “At her first session, Hayley had to fully support her in the water,” Gabrielle shares. “Now she can hold herself up, pull herself out with just a steady hand, and even jump in from the side of the pool!”
Bohdi’s progress has been just as impressive. “When he was two, he wasn’t walking,” Amber explains. “Now he’s almost running, and Hydro Heroes has helped. Last term he wouldn’t jump in or climb out by himself. Now he does both!”
Elishah and Bodhi are also loving the social side of Hydro Heroes and being around other kids who understand their unique challenges and daily life.
“Bohdi really enjoys being in the group,” Amber says. “It’s like they have their own language. And he loves to show off! If everyone’s kicking, he wants to be the one doing it the best, and the splashiest!”
For Elishah, these interactions have had benefits beyond the pool. “She wasn’t a fan of daycare,” Gabrielle explains. “But at Hydro Heroes, she learned how to play and interact with other kids, which has helped her at daycare too.” The singing is an added bonus: “She loves it! Hokey Pokey is her favourite. It even calms her down in the car.”
For both families, the benefits for their children have been life-changing – but Hydro Heroes has also made a big difference for the parents.
“Everyone is so inclusive,” Amber shares. “Both Bohdi and I, and our whole family, feel supported. It’s amazing to connect with other parents who truly understand your situation and what you’re going through.”
For Gabrielle, her favourite part is simple: “The fact that it exists. It’s life-changing, from water safety to mobility and confidence. Hayley and the team always have Elishah’s best interests at heart. They’ve proven that time and again. I honestly don’t know where we’d be without Hydro Heroes and Rocky Bay.”
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It’s life-changing, from water safety to mobility and confidence. Hayley and the team always have Elishah’s best interests at heart. They’ve proven that time and again. I honestly don’t know where we’d be without Hydro Heroes and Rocky Bay.”
- Gabrielle
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