Miracle walk

By Kelly Yates
A DOVETON boy who was never supposed to walk, will lead 5000 people from the starting line at this year’s Melbourne Marathon.
Four-year-old Jackson Fitzsimmonds was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy just before he turned one, with doctors giving him little chance of walking and communicating.
Jackson took this as a challenge and has been busy proving the doctors wrong ever since, says his mother Melanie Oliver.
Jackson started at the Cerebral Palsy Education Centre (CPEC) in 2009 and after intense therapy sessions, he can now sit up on his own and is racing around in his walker.
He is also communicating through a specially made communication book.
Ms Oliver said once her little boy realised what he could do, there was no stopping him.
“He loves his walker. He gets into everything and loves switching the television off when you’re watching it,” she said.
“He can even count to five on his own.” Jackson spends two days a week at the CPEC and also goes to childcare.
He will start kinder for four-year-olds next year.
“He’s a very cheeky and intelligent little man,” she said.
“He always has a smile on his face even when the therapy lasts for four hours at a time.”
Jackson loves computers, reading and playing with play dough. Ms Oliver said she was thrilled her son would be taking part in the Melbourne Marathon on Sunday 10 October.