Parents:
Aidan and Justine Quinn
Profession:
Home Executive
IT Systems Developer
Age of parents:
41 and 40
Children’s names:
Isabella & Cillian Quinn
Ages: 5
Are these your only children?
No, another set of twins.
Diagnosis of children:
Isabella: Cerebral Palsy, Congenital Nystagmus
Cillian: Cerebral palsy, short bowel syndrome
What are the biggest challenges facing your children on a daily basis?
Isabella: Learning to sit still and concentrate.
Cillian: Not being able to communicate or walk.
What are the happiest moments you have with your children on a daily basis?
Going for walks & bath time for Cillian.
Isabella loves to be tickled walking and bedtime ritual.
Both love lots of cuddles.
Are you a single parent or married?
Married
Have your special needs children had an effect on your marriage?
Oh definitely, all the health issues and challenges have definitely challenged and strengthened our marriage.
What have your children taught you about yourself, both positively and negatively?
Positively:
We can overcome anything and we’ll never accept mediocre, if we give Isabella and Cillian a chance and believe in them, they can do anything!
Negatively:
It’s a tiring and very time consuming being a special needs parent, lots of personal sacrifice.
Are your family and friends supportive?
My family are amazing; they love all our children equally and are as interested in their development as we are. They have felt every pain and elation with us. Aidan’s parents living in London are very supportive. Even though they are far away we Skype and they visit often and take an active role in the twins lives - thank you to you all for being our pillars!
Do you take time out, if so what do you do to relax?
We don’t have much time to ourselves. Aidan works and it’s hectic with two sets of twins! Iris House Hospice helps us with baby-sitting so we have a date-night once a month. We visit my family often and Aunty Belinda is great with our kids, they just adore her.
What has made the biggest difference to your children’s quality of life?
For Isabella, it’s being able to walk. Cillian is now learning to communicate with AAC. Technology has made all the difference to my children’s lives. Our amazing therapists Caroline, Christa, Cornelia, Ilse, Mascha and of course our wonderful Nanny Jennifer! Without these people who have shown such love and commitment we wouldn’t be where we are today. Needless to say our Paed Prof Pieter Fourie is instrumental in our lives too.
What is your dream for your children?
My only wish for my children is that they are happy and content with whom they are and that they achieve everything that they are possibly capable of. I wish that everyone who they encounter believes in them like we do. We love you our beautiful daughter and son! You have brought such love into our lives.
