Louise Borland reflects on what it was like to win carer of the year at the Highland Hero Awards, 2022.
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00:00 My name is Louise Borland and I won Care of the Year Highland Hero Award.
00:06 I was nominated by a wee boy that I look after his family.
00:12 When they see it as a job, me and Sam are like, well I call him a little bestie.
00:18 So we just have fun together. It's very rewarding.
00:23 Yay!
00:25 Is that good?
00:29 I think I've been lucky. I've not really had many, many challenges with Sam.
00:34 In the beginning, getting to know him and what needs he has and medication and things like that was a bit of a challenge.
00:43 He doesn't communicate verbally. He'll soon tell you if he's not happy about something or if he is happy about something.
00:52 So that can sometimes be a wee bit tricky. But I've been with Sam now over two years, so I kind of know roughly,
00:59 you know, with the signs that he's got, what's going on for him.
01:05 Gosh, you've got a lot to say today, don't you?
01:17 After Covid, well during Covid I'd applied for my nursing and started working in a respite centre for children with additional needs.
01:27 And while there, another one of the carers was friends with Sam's mum.
01:33 And they were looking for someone and just asked if I was interested.
01:37 Just knowing that I'm helping in some way for like mum and dad being able to have a bit of time to themselves,
01:45 although they've got two other children as well.
01:47 Just giving them some support and when Sam smiles, when you know he's having a good time, that's the best.
01:57 Another drum!
01:59 [Music]