Timothy’s story

Hi! My name is Timothy,

I have two brothers and two sisters, my one brother and sister are older and live on their own now, my other brother and sister are around my age so they live at home with me and my Mom and Dad. Their names are Joshua and Cassandra. Cassie is my twin so we are both 71/2!

My sister and I were born 10 weeks early on April, 9 2003. Cassie weighed 3lbs. 1 oz. and I was 3lbs. 7oz. We were small but healthy! We stayed in the hospital until we were at the right weight to go home, so in May of 2003 we were both a healthy weight and we went home to be a family.

One day in September of 2003, I got a cold so my mom took very special care of me, making sure I had everything I needed. But the next day I still wasn’t feeling good so my Mom took me to the Doctor. The Doctor looked me over and told my Mom to take me to the Hospital for Sick Children right away, because the Doctor thought I might have Meningitis. I went to the Hospital for Sick Kids and the Doctor there confirmed I had Meningitis so my Mom and I were quarantined until Doctors could figure out what type of Meningitis I had. We found out 6 hours later that it was Pneumococcal Meningitis, so I wasn’t able to leave the hospital.

While I was in the hospital I fell into a coma, and I slept for a week. While I was sleeping my family would visit me everyday, they would talk to me and give me hugs and kisses even though I was asleep. When I woke up from my sleep the Doctors checked me over and found that I had Bilateral Profound Sensorineural Hearing Loss so now I use a Cochlear Implant so I can hear. Because of the Meningitis, I have Shunted Hydrocephalus which is excess fluid on the brain and I also have Cerebral Palsy.

I started coming to Grandview Children’s Centre for therapy when I was 2 ½. I also go to Campbell Children’s School (CCS) at Grandview; I started going there when I was 6 years old. Before I started going to Campbell’s I went to a regular elementary school, I miss my friends from school but I go and visit them when I can and I have made many new friends at CCS.

Jen my Physiotherapist at Grandview helped me learn how to use a walker. She would also do different exercises with me, moving around my arms and legs to make them stronger. Since I was 3 years old I have been going to Grandview’s Muscle Tone Clinic. At the Clinic I see Dr. Mason he gives me a series of needles which I call “pokes”. They help me with some of the symptoms of Cerebral Palsy. Kathy my Occupational Therapist helped me learn how to eat by myself. We practiced swallowing, holding a spoon and many more skills, which my family and I would also practice at home. Before coming to Grandview, Doctors told my parents I would never walk, talk or eat on my own. But now because of Grandview and my therapies I am able to walk with a walker, I can talk in almost full sentences and I can eat on my own!

When I wake up in the morning I am so excited to get on the bus to go to school and to see my friend Thomas! I like playing on the computer, colouring and doing puzzles. Although I have a disability I just want everyone to know that I am just like every other 71/2 year old and nothing can get in my way!