Fiona Anderson and her son Sandy, whose thank-you to Julia Gillard for the NDIS prompted her emotional speech in Parliament this week. PIC: Darren England Source: The Courier-Mail
NOT every mother is happy to hear the words "your son made the Prime Minister cry".
But Fiona Anderson was touched yesterday when she was told her son Sandy's story had reduced Prime Minister Julia Gillard to tears in front of the entire nation.
"I was working and my phone went berserk with a whole lot of text messages and videos" Ms Anderson said.
Ms Gillard's emotional moment came during a speech to introduce legislation to increase the Medicare levy to support the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
"Sandy has big dreams for his future, like any teenager, but his future also has some big needs - mobility aids that cost tens of thousands of dollars, personal care to maintain his hygiene, physical therapy to maintain his muscles and his health," she said.
"When I met this young man he handed me a card signed by him and his mates to say thanks for what we are doing for people with disability."
At his Sandgate home yesterday, Sandy, who has cerebral palsy, said he was "shocked" when he first heard about the speech, but later felt a "mixture of relief and happiness".
"Even though she was crying, she was (also) relieved to have got it done," the 17-year-old said.
Ms Anderson, who is the Queensland coordinator for advocacy group Every Australian Counts, said she was floored when she was told "your son made the PM cry".
"As a mum, I think it's really important that prime ministers and other MPs understand how important the NDIS is.
"For us, personally, we now know that Sandy has a future because he'll have the same opportunities as other kids his age who don't have disabilities."
Sandy first met Ms Gillard last week when he handed her a signed card at an event celebrating the signing of the NDIS agreement by the Prime Minister and Premier Campbell Newman.
He said he had often seen her on television but it was a "massive moment" meeting her in person.
"I just said 'thank you', basically," he said. "I can't really remember what she said, because I was still thinking, 'boy this is the first time'."
Sandy is hoping to attend the University of the Sunshine Coast next year to begin his tertiary education.
Ms Anderson said the family had spent more than half a million dollars on wheelchairs, making their home more accessible, physical therapy sessions and other expenses over the years.
"My parents helped pay, we've used up our super and we've sold some of my parents' retirement investments," she said.
She said Sandy has needed a new wheelchair for the past three years, with his next one carrying a price tag of $38,000.
"The costs are extreme - children outgrow wheelchairs rapidly," she said.
