SEVENTEEN years ago, Michelle and Steven Hedger moved from Sydney to Port Macquarie in search of a better life for their family, especially their daughter Demi.
Now a 30-year-old woman Demi has an intellectual disability and lives full time with her parents, who celebrated 36 years of marriage this year.
They love how welcoming and supportive the community has been, with Michelle telling News Of The Area, “wherever we go in Port Macquarie everyone knows Demi.
“We came here for a quieter lifestyle, but as she has gotten older, she has become extremely outgoing and social, I call her my shadow.”
While Demi will always live with her parents, she has one-on-one support each day via NDIS support workers who she loves having a chat with.
Demi is part of the School of Hard Knocks Choir, and goes to Seed Art School, but her passion for the last 15 years has been photography.
Demi’s Facebook Page, Life Through The Lens With Demi, is full of photos that she takes everywhere she goes.
Her goal is to be a photographer.
Family and friends often ask her to take pictures of birthdays and celebrations with the results being highly treasured.
Like most parents caring for adult children, Michelle and Steven worry about what will happen to Demi as she gets older, with their hope being that they can make her life as big as possible.
National Carer’s Week is 12 October to 18 October.
By Rachael THORPE
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