KEY POINTS:
Teenager Eruera Simmonds is looking forward to returning to school and getting back on the school bus that he was banned from after being branded a health hazard.
The 14-year-old Kawerau boy, who has many health issues including cerebral palsy, made headlines last year when Kawerau Coaches refused to allow him on the bus, after complaints were made of him smelling bad.
Eruera is morbidly obese at 147 kilograms and was "devastated" when the bus driver refused to take him to Kawerau College, despite allowing his older sister Jessie on board.
Family advocate Melody Wharerimu said the incident at a bus stop in August had left Eruera distraught and he had had to receive counselling, while his mother Anne said he had been stripped of his dignity and made to feel worthless.
"It's been really tough on him and his family," Mrs Wharerimu said. "He loves school and since the incident has had to go through intensive counselling."
A mediation meeting between the Simmonds family, Multiserve, which administers school transport for the Education Ministry, Kawerau College, Group Special Education, the Human Rights Commission and Mrs Wharerimu was held in November.
Mrs Wharerimu said that everyone had "kissed and made up" but there were still issues with people understanding Eruera's problems.
"Our relationship with the bus company still isn't that great but they have apologised and allowed Eruera back on to the bus," she said.
"He has chronic constipation and faecal incontinence and quite a few times he has been accused of being a health hazard. He has a lot of disabilities but he is not a health hazard to other people.
"We're preparing for a stomach stapling operation which is scheduled for February 14."
He will be the first child in New Zealand to have one but he needs to lose five kilograms or more before they will allow him to have the operation.
Mrs Wharerimu said Eruera was on a diet and was embarking on a Push Play exercise regime in order to lose weight.
"The Simmonds family are quite frightened about the operation because of the risks involved, but we're hoping that it will help toward his problems," Mrs Wharerimu said.
Eruera is not the only family member with health issues. Sister Jessie, 16, also has cerebral palsy and father Noel is waiting for a hip replacement to combat his spina bifida.
"The mother, Anne, is looking after them all and it's been very tough on her.
"Eruera has also had a very big load to carry going from appointment to appointment. He currently has to walk with a trolley or pushchair and it hasn't been easy on the parents' invalid benefit, although the Bay of Plenty District Health Board has now come to the party to help with his operation."
A decision was made to keep Eruera back from school until after the operation but it is now hoped that he will return to the college next week as he is "missing his mates".
- NZPA
