A decade later this teen and her mom are still thanking the donors of Holland Bloorview!

Following an accident that led to the amputation of her left leg at the age of four, Zoe and her family spent eight months at Holland Bloorview receiving inpatient care.
 
“Holland Bloorview was just like a breath of fresh air. It was so much more calming and so much more tailored to what Zoe needed and what she wanted. It was just a much more peaceful experience then we expected,” her mom Denise recalls. 

Zoe still tells people that Holland Bloorview helped save her life in so many ways. “Without donors there wouldn't be the kind of programming or the kind of facility that makes Holland Bloorview the BEST place to be in the worst of times.”

Her mom remembers their time at Holland Bloorview being very busy, but Denise says that the variety in programming proved to be incredibly helpful for Zoe’s wellbeing and mental health. Zoe was enrolled at the Bloorview School Authority (BSA) and took part in the various other programs such as Spiral Garden, pet therapy, sensory rooms, and music therapy.

While Zoe was always keeping busy the playroom was her favourite. “She became like a little mother hen to other children. She was pretty cute in the playroom. It also gave me a break where I could just go for a walk, go for a run, and take the time I needed while she was in a program for an hour.”

Denise remained amazed by the support not only offered to the kids but also parents and caretakers. “It’s just a different experience with Holland Bloorview, they really made sure that as the parent you understood what was going on. I didn't want to leave her side but they kept encouraging me, go home, eat, get out of the hospital. They really do get you ready for the next stage of a life and how life is going to look after trauma.”

Zoe hit so many milestones while she was at Holland Bloorview that it was hard for Denise to pick just one to spotlight. However, she attributed all these milestones to the personalized comprehensive care Zoe received at Holland Bloorview - everything relearning how to walk to running for the first time, and now confidently horse racing and even driving a car.

“I know that there were donors behind all the treatments we received at Holland Bloorview. There was a lot of different programming that offered her choice. I think because there was such a variety that she could choose from, I knew she was going to be okay.”

Such programs would not be possible without the support of donors like you. Which is why Zoe and Denise kept repeating “THANK YOU to the amazing donors” more than a decade later. 

Today Zoe’s life is pretty spectacular. She is a competitive equestrian show jumper who competes in competitions, something she and her family are incredibly proud of. With her horse Nova by her side, Zoe hopes to follow in her mom’s footsteps and become a real-estate agent after high-school.