After months of exhaustion and stress Kathy Layton finally received the good news she had been waiting for, and then a few hours later, she was dead. or signup to continue reading The 56-year-old spent months fighting National Disability Insurance Scheme [NDIS] bureaucracy in an attempt to secure funding for her son, Jason, who has complex disabilities. A new plan for Jason was finally approved on May 15, 2024, but later that evening, Kathy suddenly collapsed.
When talking about his late wife, Wayne Layton finds it difficult to hold back tears. "Kathy went from the most positive bubbly person, to not wanting to take calls from anyone," he said. "Kathy stopped eating and would not often leave our bedroom apart from tending to Jason when I could not.
"I was watching my wife wither away, both mentally and physically in front of my eyes, her personality became the exact opposite of what it was." 35-year-old Jason Layton's complex disabilities mean he needs 24-hour assistance with all areas of life. In the months leading up to Kathy's death, the Layton family had been trying to seek an urgent plan review with the NDIS, as funding they received for these supports exhausted without warning.
This left the family owing tens-of-thousands-of-dollars in laundry and disability support accommodation services, and meant the entire burden of caring for Jason fell on Kathy and Wayne Layton. Despite pushing for an urgent plan review, the family often had their appointments cancelled, and had t.
