Living strong
Gavin never expected to need the services of Bloorview Kids Rehab. But last July what began with just a sore throat turned into a life-altering condition called Guillain-Barre Syndrome.
Now 17, Gavin has spent more than six months as an inpatient at Bloorview Kids Rehab. When he arrived at Bloorview, he could barely move from the neck down. He receives physiotherapy, occupational therapy, communications assistance and goes to school and recreational programs. Despite the many challenges he faces each day, Gavin is growing stronger and now walks the halls with the help of one cane. He says he loves the teachers and the recreational programs at Bloorview.
When first meeting Gavin, what’s most striking is his positive outlook and sense of humour, “I was getting better back in November and so I went into Code Blue to keep things interesting.”
He’s even found a way to help promote and raise money for other kids at Bloorview. He designed a screen for a sweatshirt for the March Break Respite Camp. Always looking at other creative outlets, his latest project is selling Bloorview bracelets in the style of Lance Armstrong’s “Live Strong” yellow bands.
Gavin doesn’t know what the future holds for him, given his recent diagnosis, but one thing he knows for sure is that he’d like to pursue a career in health promotion and encourage people to support places like Bloorview Kids Rehab.
