ARCHIE Sims, 4, can often be found in the kitchen baking a wicked chocolate cake to share with his family and friends.
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But this year Archie will be playing in the fields at Emmaus Catholic Primary School with older brother Jake and his friends.
The vivacious four-year-old was born at 29 weeks in 2011. His mother Anna Sims was sent from Ballarat to the Royal Women’s Hospital for emergency treatment.
Archie did well initially, when days after his birth he suffered bilateral ventricular bleeding on the brain. He stayed in hospital for a total of nine weeks – but the impact the bleeds would have on Archie’s development were not clear at that stage.
“We knew he would have some kind of disability,” Mrs Sims said.
At six months of age the effects were becoming clearer.
“He was not reaching the normal developmental milestones,” Mrs Sims said.
At 12 months of age he was diagnosed with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy – meaning all four of Archie’s limbs are affected.
He has limited use of his legs and can’t stand up or walk independently.
“He commando crawls around the house and he walks in a special walker,” Mrs Sims said.
If he is not doing that, he can be seen whizzing round in his red wheelchair with flame wheels.
“He is quite determined,” Mrs Sims said.
As well as baking, Archie loves playdough and riding his bike. On his first day of school on Friday he played in the farm pen and in the cubby house.
Because Archie does not a cognitive disability he was not eligible to attend a special school.
But the Sims always wanted Archie to go to the same school as his big brother.
“When we were choosing a school for Jake we had to pick a school that would also accept Archie,” Mrs Sims said.
Mrs Sims said the planning for Archie’s arrival at Emmaus has been long term.
“They started planning in term two last year,” Mrs Sims said.
On Friday, when both little boys were dressed in their uniform, ready to tackle the playground Mrs Sims and husband Cameron Sims had an overwhelming feeling of happiness.
“Archie was very ready – it was amazing,” Mrs Sims said at the weekend..
Nothing is stopping Archie – who knows, one day he might be a famous cook.
