Caroline, Jake and Darcy – disability support

Caroline has been supporting Darcy for around five years. They enjoy going ten pin bowling, playing board games, listening to music and dancing together. Darcy has changed the lives of Caroline and Jake for the better, where they appreciate the little things in life that can often be taken for granted.

Jake:

I always felt like I had a higher purpose to help people.

As soon as I met Darcy and some of the other kids, it was just so rewarding, and the perspective they kind of give you on life is amazing.

But once you meet Darcy, like, he's the most beautiful, like, fun, kind, caring person ever, and it's hard not to, kind of, fall in love with anybody like him.

Darcy:

Oh!

Caroline:

I became a disability support worker for cheeky little Darcy around about five years ago.

Jake at the time was deciding to make that career change and I saw what a beautiful bond they had.

Jake:

Yeah, he's massively changed my life. Like, he's just kind of taught me to appreciate every moment, in a way, and again, just those little things, you become grateful for.

Like, say if you're having a bad day, it all of a sudden doesn't matter if I'm caring for Darcy, 'cause I can leave all my problems at the door.

Caroline:

Working with Darcy, we're very noisy and we're very into one another and high fives and hugs and music and we dance, and we don't care who's watching, because how he lives, that's how we should all be.

Jake:

You form that connection like you do with, like, a little brother, like, where I want to support and kind of guide him through everything that he does in life, and it's an amazing kind of experience to be a part of that.

Caroline:

Last year, my other son was diagnosed with a really rare, aggressive bone cancer.

Jake:

There was a day when Zach was really struggling, and then I brought Darcy over to the house, and, you know, as he does, he lights up the room, and then he sits right next to Zach and then puts his arm around him, and then Zach, just the biggest smile came across his face, and it was just, like, the most beautiful, innocent thing.

Like, and that's the impact that he has on people.

Caroline:

It's a beautiful thing when you've got a special relationship like that.

It's just a blessing every day.

Jake:

As much as we, kind of, make a difference in their lives, like, they have a huge impact

on ours as well in getting such good perspective and getting to appreciate the little things

that sometimes we take for granted in life, which is pretty amazing.

OK.

Male voiceover:

Nice.

Last updated: 16 August 2021