Son leaves work to care for mother

Until recently Zain Laudehr, 31, lived the life of a single man, earning a living as a machine operator in the Pilbara and visiting his sick mother in Geraldton when he was able.

However, in the past few months, his life has taken a new direction as he’s given up his job to care for his mother, Geraldton identity Maxine Gregory.

Mr Laudehr is now caring for his mother in Perth and being trained to administer the specialised medical treatment she requires as she waits to see if she is eligible for a kidney transplant.

“There’s no spare time because I have to be here when mum takes her tablets because they are all so small and she can’t see them. I have to be here for all meals and doing the insulin is a 24-hour job. It’s like being a full-time carer nurse, ” he said.

“It’s hard for her to hand things over to me because she’s been an independent person all her life. But she knows it’s for the best.”

In August, Ms Gregory, who has kidney failure, diabetes and high blood pressure, relocated to Perth to receive haemodialysis because there was no room for her to be treated at Geraldton Dialysis Unit.

Once his training is completed later this month, Mr Laudehr will be able to administer the haemodialysis treatment for his mother at home in Geraldton.

Money has been so tight since Mr Laudehr stopped work, that he started a fundraising campaign to raise the $4000 he needs to prepare for his mother’s return home.

Ms Gregory will live rent-free in a home owned by her former partner, however, Mr Laudehr said before he could bring his mother home, carpet needed to be replaced with vinyl and a leaking roof, air-conditioner, plumbing and a mould problem in the bathroom needed to be fixed.

He said they also needed to buy a dialysis chair, shelving, hospital tables and containers, and carry out urgent repairs on the vehicle he used to take his mother to appointments.

“We probably need more than that but we’ve got to work towards what we need as well. We don’t want to take too many handouts, ” Mr Laudehr said.

He will hold a musical fundraising evening at the Freemason’s Hotel, Geraldton, on February 6.

More information is available online by searching for the GoFundMe “Help to bring Maxine Gregory Home” fundraiser.