Holland Bloorview: A home to me
Anyone who knows me knows that I credit Holland Bloorview for a large part of my successes in my life. It’s been a constant for as long as I can remember. I grew up here. I do not know where I would be without Holland Bloorview and the people here.
I was born with Cerebral Palsy and started coming to Holland Bloorview around three years old. After becoming a client, I attended the Bloorview School Authority (BSA). As I grew up, I continued attending appointments and taking part in other programs. All these programs and the people at Holland Bloorview have had a profound effect on me.
A place of acceptance and belonging
The BSA gave me an opportunity to grow and learn in a place where I was accepted. As a student, I did not feel different than other children around me. I remember of some of the teachers that I had. This is a large reason why I was comfortable with my disability from an early age. I was surrounded by people who were like me. I was not treated differently than other children.
Making memories and friends
Saturday mornings at Holland Bloorview are some of my fondest memories. I started my day early at swimming lessons. The lessons allowed me to work on my range of motion and help to relax my muscles. But the one thing that I remember the most is that the water was warm and relaxing. To this day, I can still swim, but I always prefer pools with warmer water. Maybe, I was spoiled for too many years.
After swimming lessons, I rushed to the gym to join the Fit N’ Flex class, a group physical activity and therapy program. Fit N’ Flex allowed me to build physical strength and skills through several different activities and stretches. As it was a group program, I was able to make some friends that I still have to this day.
Opportunities to grow in a place I know
Around 16 years old, when teens typically start thinking about their career path, I began participating in the hospital’s employment pathways programs, Youth@Work and Ready to Work. There was a part of me that knew I was going to be able to work, but I did not know how to begin or where to start building those experience and skills. During my time as a Youth@Work participant, I completed two placements: one within Holland Bloorview and one in the community. A few years later, I was a part of the Ready to Work program for two years where I completed two summer placements. These programs taught me that I can work efficiently and provided me with a space to make mistakes, ask questions in a place where I feel comfortable to take opportunities and grow while still being in a place that I know.
Leading the way
I’ve been a Holland Bloorview youth leader for a number of years, and I’ve taken part in several different youth leader projects. Youth leaders are current and former clients that use their experience as a client and a person with a disability to help support the running of the hospital’s programs and services. As a youth leader, I can relate to other clients and share my experience to help develop and improve programs and services for current and new clients of the hospital. As a youth leader, I was a contributor to one of my favourite projects to date, “As I Live and Breathe,” a collection of short stories. This project allowed me to express myself and reach people in a different way. The youth engagement programs have allowed me to improve and build skills like communication and advocating.
I have been a part of the Holland Bloorview community for about 23 years as a client, a volunteer and now in my various roles, including lived experience mentor. I don’t know where I would be without the people here and Holland Bloorview’s programs. They allowed me to learn, grow and build skills that I need to excel. Now, I work at the hospital and I’m a part of other people’s journey just as the programs and the people here have been a part of my life.
About Sam:
Samantha Alfaro graduated in 2020 with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Media Studies. She is a staff at Holland Bloorview. She has taken part in many creative projects as a Holland Bloorview youth leader. Most recently, she is a contributor to the collection, “As I Live and Breathe,” where she wrote, “Why Don’t You Ask Me My Name.”
