Parents

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Ten years ago our first son, Mitchell, was born. To everyone around, he was a cute, charming and wonderfully active little boy. His smile was infectious and his curiosity was boundless. He greeted me happily every day upon my return from work.

Around eighteen months of age, this all changed. We had just purchased and moved into our house, so when he stopped talking and began running around constantly, moaning and shaking his hands, we assumed that the big change in his life had caused him to regress, and we tried to coax him out of whatever was going through his mind.

Within weeks, my wife was taking him to different doctors, trying to determine what was wrong with Mitchell. I insisted that he would eventually “grow out” of whatever was happening, and that it was just a phase. Thankfully, my wife didn’t listen to me, and shortly thereafter we got the official diagnosis – Mitchell was autistic.

Our lives were shattered. How could this happen to our little boy? How would he ever learn to play hockey, or baseball or any other sport? Would he ever ask us to explain why the sky was blue or the grass green? Why had this happened to us?

Although we have never been able to answer most of those questions, we have been able to ensure that our happy little boy would continue to be happy. We had begun the arduous process of finding a location for Mitchell to receive IBI/ABA therapy, and that location was Ch.I.L.D.

Our first meeting with Sandy was filled with trepidation. We were now becoming used to the looks of pity that we received when explaining our situation. Sandy did not look upon us with pity. She greeted us warmly and set about explaining to us just what was happening with our child, and to some degree why. Sandy was not able to provide us all the answers, but she was able to guide us on our journey for those answers.

Mitchell has been attending Ch.I.L.D. for six years now. He is on the severe end of the spectrum, but Sandy and her team have made tremendous strides in helping Mitchell adapt and grow. His smile is still as infectious as ever, and he finds joy in almost everything he does everyday. The pride in his eyes as he shows you something that he has newly mastered reminds us every time that all our efforts and sacrifices are not in vain. I do not want to consider what our lives would be like without Sandy and her team.

Doug and Franca
April, 2011

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I look back in time when my days were dark, and my nights even darker.  My first born son, Michael, was exhibiting “odd behaviours”.  By 15 months, words and acronyms such as PDD, ASD, ABA were all thrown my way.

A family friend (G.d bless her) Marilyn Sokoloff, told me 2 simple words:  CALL SANDY!
And I did – that was back in Oct, 2000.

Sandy Palombo, of CH.I.L.D. took my Michael under her skilled wings, and began his transformation.  Back in the old days, we were all on the living room floor, hand over hand, threw his tears (and mine), and defiancy/meltdowns (his) we have triumphed!

Over the past 5 years we have witnessed Michael blossom into a verbal, gentle, loving, affectionate and active youngster.

But the school of hard knocks has tapped at our Front Door yet again! My second son, David, was ALSO exhibiting major red flags by 12 months….by now we “knew” what we were seeing, to our astonishment….again??? no way!!!
And the dreaded Diagnosis came our way: Once again:  ASD for David too!!

Sandy was right by my side, already prepared to “Bring him back to us!”  We went full force with CH.I.L.D. to help these 2 beautiful children, learn, connect and be integrated into the community and school settings.

Words cannot express my gratitude to Sandy and CH.I.L.D. over the years, for I HAVE dared to ask you ALL for TWO MIRACLES – and you all participated with all your might!

All I can add is:

Sandy: You will be seated at the Head Table of Michael & David’s Bar Mitzvah, for:

“He who helped me along the dark journey, will be rewarded in Love and Kindness.”

Lillian
Toronto

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I have a nine year old son attending grade four in an elementary separate school in Maple, Ontario.

In December of Grade one, my son’s teacher identified that he was bright yet unable to keep up with the demands of the new curriculum. I immediately enrolled him in Kumon with the teacher’s suggestion that this added reading program would help.

By grade two he was assessed by the school to require additional mentoring and was enrolled into the school’s core resource program as well as continuing him Kumon reading classes.

By the end of grade three, my friend pointed out that her daughter was experiencing similar difficulties in reading at the required level for their age group. She introduced me to CH.I.L.D. and Sandy Palombo.

In June of 2001, I enrolled my son into Sandy’s trustworthy hands where she spent a great deal of time “One on One” with him assessing his particular situation.

It was brought to my attention that son was a victim of the new curriculum. He fell through the cracks of a system that is very intense and conducive to independent learning.

I believe the teachers of our public school system are overwhelmed by their student numbers in the classroom.

My grade four son is reading at a grade one level.

I have spent many a moment in torment as to what I could have done differently with my oldest son.

As a parent I take seriously the responsibility of whatever my son succeeds or does not.

Since my sons involvement with Sandy at CH.I.L.D; I have come to realize the importance of “one on one” educators and how that has impacted my son successfully.

As my son is commencing his eighth month in Sandy’s care his progress is methodical and encouraging not short of extraordinary.

I am grateful to Sandy to an extent I can only begin to realize with the success of my son.

Sincerely,
Nancy
Maple, Ontario

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The birth of my only child, a daughter, in the summer of 2002 was the most joyous occasion of my life, but it has also proven to be the most challenging experience I will ever face. My daughter was diagnosed with a seizure disorder at six and a half months of age. She was hospitalized for one week while doctors ran a series of tests to confirm that she was indeed experiencing seizures. Specifically, Infantile spasms, a very rare form of epilepsy.

The months that followed were not only filled with numerous hospital visits and additional testing, but with worry, stress and fatigue. What could have caused these seizures? Until she was five and a half months old, she was a typically developing child. A later MRI indicated that my daughter had an ischemic injury (brain injury) which caused the seizures and the developmental delays that we are now faced with.

As a parent, nobody wants to believe that such trauma could happen to their child. I was suddenly faced with so many important decisions in terms of her present and future care. Her initial prognosis was grim. Doctors told us that there was no way to know if she would be mobile, if she would ever speak, and what type of cognitive functioning she would have. Where do I go? Who do I consult with? With my head spiraling in a thousand directions, I searched for immediate guidance.

Fortunately, The Hospital for Sick Children directed us to our community where we received some initial assistance and support. Dissatisfied with government services, I sought private therapy. Specifically, my daughter’s immediate needs required the help of an Occupational Therapist (OT) and Physiotherapist (PT). By some grace of God, I stumbled upon a private PT with a wealth of knowledge and a love for the children that she worked with. She was my first saving grace. As the months passed, she was able to explain my daughter’s needs more clearly. She was left with severe motor planning difficulties which affected every aspect of her development. She had sensory integration issues that also interfered with her development and learning. She suggested I call Sandy Palumbo, Director of CHILD. Sandy proved to be my second saving grace.

From the moment I met Sandy, I knew that my daughter would be in good hands. Her dedication and love of children was evident from the beginning. She was not only thorough, but caring. Professional yet down to earth. I was certain that I had found the right care for my daughter. We immediately set up weekly sessions where Sandy addressed all of my daughter’s needs in our home. A program was quickly put into place, and I was also provided with activities and training to use at home. My daughter was one year old when I entrusted her to Sandy’s care at CHILD. A year and a half later, I never regretted that decision. She now visits CHILD daily for her sessions, and has made incredible progress. She is not only able to walk, but she also runs and climbs up and down the stairs.

She has developed wonderful social and play skills. She has made significant gains in all areas of her development and continues to do so. Although she is not yet verbal, she has learned a number of signs to express her needs. Where are those doctors now? I never initially believed that she would come this far. We are so trained as individuals to believe every aspect of what the medical profession tells us, that it often deflates a person’s courage and optimism before they know what hit them. I have been fortunate enough however, to come into contact with a team of professionals that have rekindled my optimism and that have continued to provide my family and I with the support and care that we need to move forward as individuals, but also as a family. They gave us hope and strength at a time when we had very little. And they continue to do so.

CHILD is a unique facility that offers wonderful programs for children of all needs. Headed by Sandy, it succeeds in providing a truly caring and loving environment for all children, regardless of their need or ability. This would not be possible however, without the dedication and care of the numerous instructional assistants that work there. They too open their hearts and dedicate themselves to the children in a most profound way. Regardless of whether they work directly with a particular child or not, each child is treated as special. There is always a kind greeting or caring gesture for parent and child alike.

As a parent and as a professional in the field of education, I feel strongly about the work being done at CHILD and the care being provided for our children. One of the best days since my daughter’s diagnosis, was the day I entered CHILD, for I knew that they possessed professionalism and a strong theory and practice. But perhaps most importantly, I knew that I was entrusting my child to people that cared about her well being as much as I did.

Julie
Maple, Ontario