Joey is an enthusiastic seven-year-old who is always on the move. His beaming smile has been a constant at Holland Bloorview for the past few years and he is often seen zooming through the corridors in his wheelchair with his personalized license plate and sunglasses.
Joey plays a mean hand of Uno and loves computer games like Star Wars, but above all Joey loves to laugh. He has a giggle that can permeate the hospital room and fill the nearby hallway. A giggle so contagious it is guaranteed to make those standing by join in.
It’s not all giggles though, as Joey was born with a rare form of muscular dystrophy. His condition keeps him reliant on a ventilator and requires him to stay in the hospital for long periods of time. Thanks to donor support Joey is equipped with a sophisticated ventilator designed to promote mobility, which allows him to move more independently. This ventilator assists Joey with something most people take for granted – a simple breath.
“Joey is an extremely social little boy. He loves to play and interact with people and having the new ventilator allows him to participate in many things he wouldn’t be able to otherwise, like going to the local public school everyday,” Joey’s mom says.
Over the years, Joey has benefited from Holland Bloorview’s comprehensive and specialized complex continuing care. He has used a number of Holland Bloorview services including occupational therapy and speech language therapy. Joey is a big fan of Holland Bloorview’s unique Snoezelen bedside cart, the virtual musical instrument and the therapeutic playroom.
