Connor's 'best shot at life' to enjoy Kiwi childhood

SHAUN EADE

DETERMINED PAIR: Teresa Graham is determined to find a way to help her son Connor, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when he was a only couple of weeks old.

While most children dream of material items Tuakau's Connor Graham just wants to enjoy growing up as a Kiwi kid, something most take for granted.

The 13-year-old has cerebral palsy, a disorder caused by brain damage that affects the ability to control movement.

It's a challenge he and his parents have been dealing with since he was only a couple weeks old.

His mother, Teresa Graham, said after years of positive steps, a lack of funding could see all the hard work come undone.

"Over the last six months, I have noticed everything has changed and he has lost a lot of what he has learnt and that saddens me," she said. "We have worked really hard because we do not want him to be dependent on the state. I cannot seem to find someone important enough to make the funding happen."

She said Connor's attitude motivated the family through the difficult times. "He has got a wonderful nature and is very patient," she said. "His ambition is just to be like other children." Connor was Teresa and husband John's fourth child. He was born three months premature.

"I found myself at home with this little baby who obviously had some problems but things I knew nothing about," she said.

"It was a fortnightly visit by a physio and every other moment apart from the hour she spent in the home was just mass confusion for me." The couple are determined to give Connor the best chance and took him to a conductive education clinic and were impressed at the results.

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Connor's 'best shot at life' to enjoy Kiwi childhood