Wheels Up! ☀️ My First Summer Adventure as a Dad on a Roll. By Dusty Wentworth

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Summer. Just the word itself conjures up images of sunshine, ice cream drips, and the delightful chaos of kids who suddenly forget what bedtime means.

For me, this summer isn't just about longer days and warmer nights; it marks a pretty significant milestone—my first real summer holiday as a dad on wheels, and a new kind of adventure for our whole family!

After spending 11 months in hospital, and now 10 months post-discharge, this season isn't just a stretch of warmth and light. It's my first real test in this new life.

Since returning home, I've been locked in a daily battle—not just with the physical consequences of my condition, but with the psychological toll that disability can exact.

Adapting to life with new physical limitations is one thing; it's another entirely to confront the emotional weight of a fractured identity.

Losing 14 years of memory has created a chasm in my life—memories of raising my children, memories of love, struggle, growth—gone.

I look at my children, aged 10, 6, and 2, and though I love them with every fibre of my being, there's pain in not remembering their births, their first steps, their earliest words.

That grief is real and persistent. And while it stings not to remember those first moments, this summer is our chance to build a whole new album of unforgettable moments together, no matter how many times I need reminding of the details later!

But despite all this, life pushes forward. And this summer, I choose to push with it.

For the first time since my injury, I'm stepping back into public life in a meaningful way—not just for me, but for them.

My children deserve a summer of fun, adventure, and healing. And I'm absolutely determined to give them just that.

Being a dad on wheels instead of legs definitely adds an… interesting dynamic to our summer plans.

Forget just packing sun cream and snacks; now I'm also strategising over ramp access, wondering if those theme park rides are really wheelchair-friendly (spoiler: often not!), and generally becoming a master of improvised fun.

Planning for three children at different developmental stages is already a circus act—now add physical disability and neurological complications to the mix, and you've got yourself a full-blown summer blockbuster!

But hey, who doesn't love a challenge, eh? Especially when there's an ice cream reward at the end.

So, buckle up, folks! Over the next six weeks, I'm hitting pause on the heavy stuff.

Instead, I invite you to swap your worries for wonder and join me and my incredible little crew on our grand summer holiday adventure—a season packed with resilience, laughter, and making memories (even if some may have to be retold to me later!).

We’re trading lectures for laughter, headlines for hide-and-seek, and debate for discovery.

This isn’t just about giving my kids a summer to remember—it’s also about rediscovering myself as a father, in the here and now.

Let’s see where the wheels take us! ☀️




Join Our Summer Journey!

If you've ever faced adversity, questioned your identity, or fought to stay connected with your loved ones through life's hardest transitions, then this journey is for you.

Follow along as we explore what it really means to rebuild, to adapt, and to love fiercely in the face of challenge.

This isn’t just a summer holiday—it’s a story of healing, growth, and unapologetic fatherhood, one ice cream cone at a time.

Follow, share, and come along for the ride.
The road ahead may be bumpy, but with a little sunshine and a lot of love, it’s going to be absolutely worth it!


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