Finding time to breathe helps mom cope with her child's brain injury
By Louise Kinross
While driving home from a holiday in Myrtle Beach, Lindsay Burdis and her family were in a car accident. Lindsay’s toddler Blake suffered a traumatic brain injury, required surgery in the U.S., and is now in rehab at Holland Bloorview relearning all of her skills. “She was a very active little girl, and we’ve had to press 'reset' and teach her everything again,” Lindsay says. While Lindsay stays with Blake at the hospital, her husband and son are at home in London, Ont.
“It’s hard to all of a sudden be thrown into this situation. Everything is different. Blake has a speech therapist, an occupational therapist and a physiotherapist. She had cat scans and MRIs and transfusions and surgeries in the states, and on top of all of the medical information, there’s a law suit. It’s a hurricane of information, with no slow period and no time to take a break.”
But ever since they came to Holland Bloorview, Lindsay has taken one hour a week for herself, attending the hospital’s free Yoga for Caregivers. Parents join a yoga instructor in our art studio for an hour of breath work, gentle movement, guided relaxation and silent meditation.
“For me, this is self-care,” says Lindsay, who was recently diagnosed with her own accident-related concussion. “This has been the one thing that, no matter what state Blake is in, I’m going to do this one thing for myself. It’s full body. It’s emotional and mental and physical. There’s never any judgment, and every level is accepted—every creak of your bones, or grunt or sigh.
“The breathing part of yoga allows me to take the deep breaths I’m told I should take as we hear about all of these life changes, and make medical decisions. This is one time, for one hour a week, where I concentrate on deep breathing.”
Yoga for Caregivers is part of Holland Bloorview’s Care for the Caregivers program—which provides resources to help parents manage the emotional and physical stress of caring for children with extraordinary needs.
“What I love about this hospital is yes, my daughter is a patient, but my entire family is being supported,” Lindsay says. "This yoga class has helped me in my recovery, both mentally and physically."
Inpatient and outpatient parents and caregivers are welcome to join the group every Thursday from 10 to 11 a.m. in the art studio. Mats are provided, and no experience is necessary.
“Each and every parent and caregiver has taught me so much about determination, strength and resilience,” says yoga instructor Lesley Halcro. “I am humbled and honoured to share my yoga practice with them.”
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