Fortunate to Receive Customized Care
When Darren first arrived at Bloorview Kids Rehab, he didn’t want to be here, but on his discharge day, December 11, 2009, he found it hard to say goodbye.
“At first I hated everyone and everything about the place, but after being here for just a week, my mood and comfort level improved dramatically. I gave everyone a chance and grew to love this place,” says Darren.
The 15-year-old teen was hit by a car while skateboarding home from playing volleyball the night of October 27, 2009. His mother was on her way to pick him up and saw police cars and a crowd of people on the road. “In between everyone’s legs, I saw this little blond streak of hair and I knew it was him. I have never seen a body so bent,” says Darren’s mother Lynne.
Darren sustained a head injury and two broken legs. He underwent two surgeries to replace broken bones with metal and nails. After two weeks of critical care, he was transferred to Bloorview for intensive physiotherapy, occupational therapy, cognitive therapy, recreational therapy and attended Bloorview’s school.
After a total of five weeks of inpatient care at Bloorview, Lynne said she can't say enough about the medical care her son received at Bloorview. “If it weren’t for the excellent physiotherapy Darren received, he’d still be in a wheelchair, but he can now walk and with additional physiotherapy, he is expected to make a full recovery,” said Lynne.
Sadly, Lynne is no stranger to traumatic head injuries. “I already lost my first-born son to a head injury, as a result of a severe car accident. I couldn’t imagine losing another son and am so grateful to Bloorview for helping Darren get back on his feet again.”
Darren speaks fondly of his time at Bloorview, “The staff are positive and cheerful and help you to accept what’s happened to you and realize it’s not the end of the world. I feel very fortunate. I’m going home, but I’ve made friends here who are still working hard to get better. They still need more therapy, but hopefully some may be well enough to leave soon too.”
Darren especially enjoyed the pet therapy program and piano playing in the front foyer. “When I get home, I want a dog and I’m going to start taking piano lessons,” says Darren. “I’m definitely coming back to visit Bloorview and one day I want to work here as an occupational therapist.”
Community support enables Bloorview to provide kids like Darren with customized care from a collaborative and multidisciplinary medical team. Thanks to generous
donors, we are able to provide this level of care to meet the individual needs of each child.
