Tirzah’s Story Highlights Importance of Provincial Investment
On August 10, 2021, Ministers Dr. Merrilee Fullerton and Bay of Quinte MPP Todd Smith visited the Quinte Children’s Treatment Centre (CTC) at QHC Belleville General Hospital to announce the government’s latest investment in support of children and youth with special needs across Ontario.
QHC President and CEO Stacey Daub took the opportunity to share the story of one of the hundreds of children receiving services by the dedicated and hardworking team at the Quinte CTC. A special thanks to the adorable Tirzah and her amazing mom Mary for attending and allowing us the privilege of sharing a bit about their journey.
Tirzah is almost two years old. When she was just 6-months old, Tirzah had major surgery on the right side of her brain to control seizure activity. After the surgery, Tirzah had weakness, decreased movement, and decreased vision on the left side, similar to a stroke. She has been receiving therapy now at the Quinte Children’s Treatment Centre for over a year – first to help her with the feeding challenges she experienced because of seizures and neurological differences, and now speech and language, support with vision loss, and physiotherapy. The Orthopaedic Clinic team at the Quinte CTC ensure she has the bracing required to support her ankles when standing and walking. The goals were to increase strength and active movement of her left leg and arm – to improve her overall function.
Due to Covid-19 many of the initial sessions were virtual and the family worked tirelessly and diligently to implement ideas from therapists to reach goals. What an amazing family! What an amazing team at the Children’s Treatment Centre.
Tirzah began sitting by herself five months after coming to the CTC. Since then, Tirzah has become a proficient bum scooter J. She is now walking at home with a specialized walker and is working on independent walking during active physiotherapy sessions. Tirzah loves to babble and sing and is using words “yes” and “no”. Tirzah is a beautiful, happy smiling girl who is making huge gains through her own hard work, her family’s diligent work, love and support and the expert guidance and treatment through the CTC!
“Tirzah is one of the thousands of children requiring the diverse and multi-disciplinary supports offered by Children’s Treatment Centres across Ontario,” said Stacey Daub, President and CEO, Quinte Health Care. “This $240 million investment is unprecedented for this hardworking sector and there is no better investment than in the future potential of children and youth right across the Province. On behalf of all the Tirzahs and their families – I thank you.
