Mum, Dad and Michela

This is the third documentary made about the remarkable life of Shelly West (Michelle Belesarius) who was crippled by rheumatoid arthritis as a child and blind since she was 20. After giving birth against medical odds, Shelley, and husband Dion, bring their new daughter Michela home; but they find parenting fraught with money worries and, for Shelly, the ongoing challenge of bonding with her daughter. To augment their finances, she writes a book and takes up public speaking — but a steadily weakening heart requires potentially life-threatening surgery.

And although I’m blind and disabled by arthritis, we were both totally confident about being parents.

– Shelly West

Key Cast & Crew

Julienne Stretton

Director

Colleen Hodge

Producer

Colin Hogg

Writer

Shelly West

Subject

Karl Steven

Composer

Geoff Steven

Executive Producer