JACOB Adam’s beaming smile said it all.
After spending much of last year in hospital, the Mayfield youngster relished the opportunity to hit the waves at the Hunter Branch of the Disabled Surfers Association’s event at Caves Beach on Saturday. “Jacob loves the water and feels free in the water,” his mother and carer Jackie Adam said. “He just seems to forget his chronic pain, disability and the medical stuff and gets that adrenaline rush.”
Jacob, 12, is non-verbal and has a global developmental delay, intestinal failure, autism and epilepsy.
“The closer we got to the beach I could see his little face light up,” Ms Adam said.
“I had to hold him back to wait his turn he was so excited. Seeing him smiling and laughing and his arms in the air was beautiful. We are just so grateful to the volunteers that run it.” The Disabled Surfers Association was established in 1986 and aims to help participants experience the magic of surfing. The next Hunter branch surf day is February 17.
Helen Gregory
Helen Gregory joined the Newcastle Herald in 2010. She is the masthead’s education reporter and has written for the H2 and Weekender sections, as well as across a range of issues. Helen is a Walkley Award winning journalist and was also part of the Newcastle Herald team that won the United Nations World Environment Day Media Award for Environmental Reporting.
Helen Gregory joined the Newcastle Herald in 2010. She is the masthead’s education reporter and has written for the H2 and Weekender sections, as well as across a range of issues. Helen is a Walkley Award winning journalist and was also part of the Newcastle Herald team that won the United Nations World Environment Day Media Award for Environmental Reporting.
