Grant's Story

This is an article written by Ros Bruinsma, one of our current Heartwell mothers. Her son Grant has attended Heartwell weekly for years. Ros was prompted to write her son’s Heartwell story after watching Scott Taylor in Channel Seven’s tribute to Shane Warne.

This is very emotional for me on multiple levels.

Firstly, because I still can't quite believe Warnie is gone. I just loved watching him play. Secondly, because of the incredible human, Scott Taylor. Allow me to introduce you to Grant's "Sports Teacher”, which is what my boy calls Scott.

I have known for years that Scott knew Shane Warne, but I only found out recently that he was part of his Channel Seven tribute. Well, I finally plucked up the courage to watch it last night and, oh, boy, Scott's words sent me into an emotional mess! If you take the time to listen to the interviews, Scott talks about the impact Shane Warne had on this world through his Foundation, and how he made a difference in the lives of kids with all kinds of abilities. I can only say that Scott has also made a huge difference in my beautiful son’s life, and that difference has been undeniably positive.

This was Grant and Scott’s first photo together, taken at the end of the first year we started at Heartwell (which I believe was 2015).

When he was nine weeks old, Grant was diagnosed with Leukaemia. He was diagnosed with Autism three years later. We grappled with extreme, violent meltdowns for most of the years of Grant’s childhood — from three years old to around fifteen.

Scott came into our lives seven years ago now. I was desperate for Grant to be more "active" so after my friend told me she had found a place called Heartwell for her child, I took the leap and got a referral through the physiotherapist at Grant’s school. I already had made an attempt at an exercise program run in my local community, but that was disastrous — Grant had a massive meltdown on the first day and nobody came to our aid once! Then I tried a gymnastics program but, again, after persisting through multiple meltdowns had to give that away too. To say I was anxious, worried and, to some degree, sceptical before I first attended Heartwell is the understatement of the century.

I can only say that Scott has also made a huge difference in my beautiful son’s life, and that difference has been undeniably positive.

The day we arrived, Scott could not have been more welcoming, supportive, understanding, compassionate and positive towards Grant. I saw an immediate connection between him and my boy; Grant was drawn to Scott's “can do" attitude. Heartwell took Grant on as a client and Scott then embarked on developing an exercise program for Grant. In the beginning, Grant was very averse to doing anything that caused him to break into a sweat or even raise his heart rate — but through Scott’s kind guidance, Grant these days comes out of the Heartwell gym dripping in sweat. He has discovered a love for the bench press and (most of) the gym equipment, and is now a gym junkie.

This one was, I think, the second year (2016?) and my absolute favourite. You can see the confidence oozing from Grant! I had never seen a smile/look like this on Grant before this photo. This photo speaks volumes and means the world to me.

Over our time at Heartwell, Scott has taught Grant the basics of basketball. Now, teaching Grant anything is usually a big challenge (just ask his old school teachers), but Scott has taken that challenge head on, and the improvement of Grant’s skills is unquestionable.

Grant was very averse to doing anything that caused him to break into a sweat or even raise his heart rate — but through Scott’s guidance, Grant comes out of the Heartwell gym dripping in sweat.

Grant's initial ability to run was limited, his agility was non-existent and his strength was very poor. He now runs so much better — he still has room for improvement, but he can chase down opposition players on the basketball court. His agility has improved so much that just the other night in his grand final game, as he was dribbling the ball through the key, he did a spin to get past a defender and get closer to the goal. (That’s right, you heard me, he did a spin while dribbling the ball!) Grant’s strength has also increased so much that he can now hold onto the ball at the same time as an opposition player to get a jump ball called, when previously he would just let go. (Again, I saw that in the grand final!)

I could talk for days about what Scott has done for my boy. Without him, both Grant’s life and my life would be very different.

My third level of emotion is that one of Scott’s kids has jumped on board and become part of the incredible network I have built around my son. Ayce Taylor is now one of Grant’s incredible Support Workers, which allows me to do what I love — my Sunday morning shift where I get to teach swimming to some of my favourite kids.

I could talk for days about what Scott and Heartwell have done for my boy. Without them, both Grant’s life and my life would be very different. It is not only the physical side of Grant’s improvement, but Scott’s influence and consistency has made him a very important person in Grant’s world; a positive male role model, if not a father figure. Scott says in the documentary that Shane Warne had an enormous impact on children’s lives. Well, I can definitely say the same about him! I will be forever grateful our paths have crossed.