Nick turns to teens to help raise reporting of concussions

By Louise KinrossNick Reed is an occupational therapist who joined Holland Bloorview as a research associate. In almost six short years, he’s become a senior clinician-scientist, co-director of our pediatric concussion centre, and most recently, the Holland Family Chair in acquired brain injury. He’s passionate about bringing an occupational therapy lens to rehab for children with sports and other concussions. It all began when he followed a youth...

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When parent hopes and rehab truths clash

By Louise Kinross Sarah Davidson is an occupational therapist at Holland Bloorview. For 14 years she’s worked with children with complex medical needs who are hospitalized here after painful surgeries or life-changing illness or trauma. Of course, that also means working with their parents. She worked with my son when he was an inpatient. We talked about what it’s like to work with families who are under enormous emotional stress.BLOOM: How...

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New parent sleeper chairs make hospital stays more restful

Holland Bloorview family leader Lies Ferriman was one of a group of parents who tested out the chairs, which pull into beds, at the factory. She remembers sleeping on a narrow cot with pointy springs when her son was hospitalized at our old Bloorview site. By Louise Kinross Seventy-five new sleeper chairs for parents staying at their child’s bedside at Holland Bloorview are being purchased thanks to dollars raised by our recent Capes for Kids...

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How does having a disabled neighbour 'dash your dreams?'

Families protest the Weyburn, Sask. decision to keep a small group home out. This photo is from CBC NewsBy Louise KinrossI’m embarrassed. This isn’t the Canada I know and love. But apparently, according to two recent news stories, it is. Last night I read about how the city council of Weyburn, Sask. rejected a home for four adults with disabilities in a new subdivision called The Creeks. Four people! According to this Toronto Star story, there...

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Time for a parenting reality check

By Louise KinrossIt’s so easy to look from the outside of someone’s life and make assumptions about how they’re doing. In the last 24 hours, I read a couple of posts that showed me how wrong we can be.  When we ask someone how they’re doing, do we really want to hear the answer? Do we make room for people to share candidly? Or do we just want the sanitized ‘fine,’ so we can go on our merry way? Susan Senator and Maya Wechsler are what...

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A pharmacist who burnt out has a new mission: mental health

By Louise Kinross Amy Hu is a pharmacist at Holland Bloorview who became interested in children’s rehab after doing a student placement here. She’s been with us for seven years, was the clinical pharmacy coordinator, and is moving into a new role with our quality team. I know Amy from the weekly staff mindfulness sessions offered by social worker Anne-Marie Batelaan. Amy says it was her own experience with burnout that made her want to talk...

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