Joy

I had a surf lifesaving patrol at Pambula today. Part of the day involved doing a program with the Special Nippers group, children with special needs. I was partnered up with Jake, who is a quadriplegic. The club has a special wheelchair that can go through sand, so we got him down there and I pushed him, firstly along the sand as we played relay games and 'flags', then into the water as we waded around another surf club member, splashed and got hit by some 'enormous' waves. Jake and I were having a blast.

Then it was time to get a surfboard out. Three of us lifted Jake from the wheelchair and lay him on the board. I jumped on the back and paddled into a rolling whitewater wave.

"I'm surfing! I'm surfing!!' Jake couldn't stop yelling. When we got to the shore he cried, 'That was awesome! Can we do that again?'

'Of course we can!'

I paddled Jake into three more waves. He couldn't wait to get home to tell his dad about how cool his day was and how he is now a surfer.

He also couldn't stop smiling.

And neither could I.