“It gave our child his life back.”
As a parent, you know that nothing could ever prepare you to hear catastrophic news about your child. That’s what happened to me just over four years ago, while on a school ski trip with my two children north of the city.
The unthinkable happened—my athlete son broke his C5 vertebrae in a near fatal snowboarding crash and sustained a severe spinal cord injury, hurling our entire family into crisis. A crisis we never expected or could prepare for. We were told he was lucky to be alive, but would not likely move again from the neck down. He was paralyzed and so was I.
Two weeks after his surgery, we came to Bloorview Kids Rehab where we began the long, slow rehabilitation process. He still had barely any movement or sensation. Muscle by muscle, limb by limb, he began to move again, with the help of physiotherapists. He even went to school here, enabling him to graduate with his grade 8 class that June. This spring he graduated from high school and is off to McMaster University to study Life Sciences. Today, he walks with one cane at home and astonishes his doctors with just how far he has come. He still hopes to walk independently one day.
Before the accident, I had never heard of Bloorview. Never did I ever think we’d need the services of a pediatric rehabilitation centre, but we are incredibly grateful that a place like Bloorview exists. It gave our child his life back. Nor did I ever think I’d be working with the Bloorview Kids Foundation today promoting this incredible organization to parents just like you.
Everyday I come to work here, I am reminded of just how far we’ve come from those early days at Bloorview. I have also come to realize that while no family is immune from disability, I take great comfort in knowing that should the unthinkable happen, children’s medical, emotional and social needs can be met under one roof, in this preeminent pediatric treatment centre.
Your support is greatly needed. Community support enables children with disabilities to access programs and services they need, obtain specialized equipment they require and the critical medical care they can’t live without. Your gift can change a child’s life forever.
Sincerely,
Diane Schoenhoff
Bloorview Ambassador Parent
Bloorview Kids Foundation
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