Sunshine Coast councillor shares his family’s health struggles with newborn son

A Sunshine Coast councillor has opened up on how he and his wife felt like they had done something wrong after their baby boy was born with a significant birth defect.

Sunshine Coast Councillor Christian and Samantha Dickson, with their young son Theodore. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Sunshine Coast councillor Christian Dickson has revealed his young family’s struggle after his son Theodore was born with a significant birth defect.

Clubfoot, also known as talipes equinovarus, affects around one in 1000 babies and is comparatively a common issue.

It’s a condition where an infant’s foot has turned inward, often so severely that the bottom of the foot faces sideways or even upward.

Theodore Dickson has to wear these specialised boots for 23 hours a day. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Mr Dickson said he was brought to tears after a radiography scan showed that his son may never be able to walk.

“I left that appointment crying, we were devastated to hear that your kid might not walk,” he said.

“We felt helpless and asked if we had done something wrong.”

Mr Dickson has come forward in the hopes of raising awareness and support for families who are dealing with the condition.

Sunshine Coast councillor Christian and Samantha Dickson are prepared to do everything they can for their son. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Mother Samantha Dickson said she had blamed herself for the issue.

“I had a bit of an issue with my right foot when I was born,” she said.

“I felt really responsible that it was me that was causing this.”

After learning that there was nothing they could’ve done differently, along with the support of friends, family and medical staff at Sunshine Coast University Hospital, Mr Dickson said they had come to terms with the situation.

But there is a long road ahead.

Ms Dickson said she hoped her son would not be treated differently and that his condition would improve with age.

“I don’t want people to treat him differently, as a mother you don’t want someone to be treated differently because they have a disability,” she said.

“I’m hoping we can avoid the whole bullying thing because Christian and I were both bullied in school and it changes you.”

Theodore will have to spend years in physiotherapy but the outlook is getting brighter. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Mr Dickson said he thinks people have become more accepting of disabilities.

“Everyone is going through a lot of challenges and you just don’t know,” he said.

“I’m proud of him and I’m proud that he can get treatment and I’m proud that he’s my son.”

The next steps for little Theodore is an appointment in Brisbane, where it will be assessed if he will need surgery to cut tendons in his ankles to improve his mobility.

Ms Dickson said it was hard to watch her newborn son go through this.

“They’re so little and innocent and you want to do everything for them,” she said.

“Us mums, we’re ferocious when it comes to our children.”

They are now looking forward and have taken on the advice and support of online groups and family.

“Left untreated, he would never have been able to walk,” Ms Dickson said.

“But there’s hope, there is hope there too.”