My plea to the premier

Few people have that special touch,  a miraculous skill, that relentless dedication to their profession that make an incredible difference in peoples' lives.  This special lady Bernie who is a paediatric  physiotherapist has all those qualities.   My daughter had the good fortune to start seeing Bernie when she was just a few months old.  She was very fragile and her future was very uncertain.  Ashley needed Bernie's help to gain head control, roll over, use her arms to reach, and bear weight through her legs. I began to learn that she is one of the very best in her field and Ashley was so very lucky to have her on her team.  

Because of this lady, Ashley is now a walker, and even a soccer player.  Ashley has a new level of independence with her walker and every new accomplishment is like a gift. This did not come easy for Ashley but with Bernie's skills and advocating that Ashley received the adequate number if visits to make it happen, Ashley has now received a new level of freedom. You can't image how shocked and saddened I was to learn that Bernie's contract was recently cancelled by 1 to 1 Rehab. We need more physiotherapist like Bernie in the public sector.  

At present CCAC's and Children's Treatment Centre’s in Ontario  look more  at the number of visits and block the child for treatment, rather then focusing on the child's ability to progress and to attain outcomes goals.  There is just not enough funding for physiotherapy to provide the level of therapy to make a difference for the growing number of special needs kids in Ontario. We are lucky in that we can afford to supplement the government therapy with private therapy.  That was also needed to get Ashley where she is today.  Not all families are able to supplement the government therapy with private physiotherapy. 

I wish I knew how to let the provincial government know many more kids need more therapy and that it really pays off in the long run.   Many more skilled physiotherapist need to be hired to meet their  needs.  Kids who can walk and who are not confined to wheelchairs will function better and be happier adults.   They will require less expensive health care and equipment if they can move about independently.

Dalton McGuinty, I know you want to build a brighter future for Ontario.  Please don't forget about my girl.  If it were not for Bernie, Ashley would not be where she is today.  Bernie is someone that you want on your therapy team.   There are many more kids in York region that would have benefitted from her service.  Not all  parents can afford private therapy.   Physiotherapy should not be a luxury for kids who cannot walk, hold up your head, feed yourself or speak. 

Kids here need more therapy and this isn't just a physiotherapy problem, it can be said for occupational and speech unfortunately.   Ashley is enjoying and benefiting greatly from her current block of PT at CTN and but it is only an 8 week block.   Ashley will have to sit out at least 8 weeks before starting again.  Ashley will spend more time out of therapy then in therapy in the next year.   Image if she regresses and doesn't have that opportunity to learn how to walk independently.   Ontario has amazing therapists who are forced  to work privately and many families can't afford this cost.  Please don't let these children down. It's an uphill battle just to be a kid.

You can see what Ashley can learn to do when receiving on-going therapy in her progress videos here, here and here.

A treadmill work out

September passed by in a total blur for me even though three kids where in school full time there was no time to blog.  My  days are filled with phone calls and meetings.   There seems to be something on my calendar each evening too. Ashley's doing fabulously with the new schedule and managed very nicely to give up her naps she is actually sleeping 12 hours each night which leaves her very happy and  giggling each day.  Dropping the nap seems to work really nicely.

Last week  Ashley had back to back OT and PT at CTN.  It was honestly much more then I expected and Ashley loved it.  She was on the treadmill for 15 minutes straight and they kept speeding it up from 0.4 miles an hour to 0.8 miles an hour at the end her feet were moving at a nice pace and she was smiling the entire time.   I take her on a treadmill at home but I never challenged her to move her feet that fast and she would have short breaks at home as my arms would get tired just supporting her.   Mommy needs to get in shape.    I was surprised to see how easily she handled the faster speeds and her heart rate was good the entire time.  

She also crawled up a hill, worked on balance on the trampoline, crawled across a very big bean bag walked along the parallel bars and laterally along the edge of a table. Perhaps a few other things I'm forgetting too.   It was  a great workout  and all this following a session of OT, plus a morning at school too. 

OT was very busy too with targeted drawing, throwing, stacking and locating beads in putty.    I have a feeling  her new OT had more tricks up her sleeve if there was more time as there was a few washroom breaks but it was really great. Ashley has not had  OT since preschool.  I feel this session was long overdue and with guidance and practise I'm sure Ashley's  fine motor skills will improve.  

Ashley is already looking forward to returning CTN this week. 

Single Plan of Care

I'm so excited I made a fabulous montage of Ashley doing all kinds of gross motor skills for her upcoming Single Plan of Care (SPOC) meeting. I'd love to share it right now but I think I want to  hold off so everyone can watch it at an upcoming team  meeting  May 12th.  It's really sweet.

This will be Ashley's second SPOC meeting at the school, many people attend as she has a PT, OT, CDA (Communication disorders assistant)  and speech therapist (SLP) for home and another team at school.  Her school principal, teacher, education assistant, special education teacher, case manager, early interventionist and a team co-ordinator also attend that is 15 people.  They  all help Ashley reach her full potential it's her DREAM TEAM. She even has a few other members of the team that won't be at the meeting, home nurse, school nurse and  a private PT.  She has 3 PT's on her team and they are all so skilled!  Many members of Ashley's team have come to be dear friends, who understand the ups and downs of this amazing journey we are on.  I feel so blessed to call them friends.

 My video includes a small tribute to her team it is impossible to thank them enough for loving Ashley and helping her excel but I can at least say thanks.

Kindergarten

 I had to share that three of Ashley friends from her kindergarten class gave her a group hug when she left on friday.  I was holding my camera but did not take a picture and it was the sweetest thing ever.  I so wished I had captured that one on film.   I did capture this one just before that hug.

This  tree is outside her classroom it has all her classmates names and in the middle it reads

"We are kind hearted"

Which is just the perfect way to describe this class. 

Here's some artwork she completed in class last week.   As you can see Ashley's doing great  with scribbling now I'm so thrilled this is a very big deal for her.  

On  Earth day she  planted a bean, enjoyed making bird feeders and hanging them on trees at school.

Great sensory work!

Today in class the fire department came and the entire class had a chance to sit in the fire engine. The kids all loved it.  I don't remember kindergarten being that much fun when I went but I was a painfully shy child at that age so I don't recall having fun unless I was home or with family.  Luckily none of my kids are shy.  Here's Ashley with her fabulous teacher that was kind enough to send me a number of her photos.

Little Taylor  likes to take a few steps but still isn't totally confident and loves hanging on my legs.  It has slowed me down a bit so I'm getting down there and taking more pictures of all this cuteness. 

Special Exposure Wednesday #4

Here's a look at occupational therapy at home this morning. Ashley fine motor skills are coming along so nicely she can really use her hands to pick up many different things, she can pick up her cup with one hand and turn it around to get the spout in her mounth (all by herself) and pass it from hand to hand. Way to go Ashley! Mommy is so proud of you.

Oh and the drinking too is a big accomplishment for my little one!!