Mia's Story
She can light up a room with her smile.
Mia may not be able to walk, speak, or feed herself, but this sweet little six year old lights up a room with her smile. Mia has Cerebral Palsy (CP). CP is a term used to describe a collection of disorders caused by abnormal brain development or damage to the brain that occurs around the time of birth or early in life. CP causes problems with muscle tone, movement, balance and coordination. Symptoms and effects range from mild to severe. In some infants, problems are evident soon after birth. In others, diagnosis comes in later infancy or toddlerhood.
Since birth Mia has had several surgeries. Unable to suckle, she underwent surgery and for the first four months a tube that ran from her nose to her stomach was the only way she could receive nourishment. Mia was later diagnosed with CP at the age of one. Mia is in a wheelchair and her limbs are weak requiring ankle braces as well as a hip brace to keep her hips in place. She experiences issues eating, so her food is pureed and she requires assistance to eat. Despite all these obstacles Chantal, Mia's mother, describes her as a ray of sunshine, happy to play and share her toys with her friends and when you get her to smile, it is one of the most beautiful things in the world.
Mia is in grade one at McKellar Park School and comes to George Jeffrey Children's Centre once a week. At the Centre Mia has a treatment plan that includes speech, occupational and physio therapy. Recently Chantal said she found Mia climbing up on the coffee table in front of the television to watch hockey; Mia is an avid hockey fan. Chantal said with the exceptional care and dedication of the staff at George Jeffrey Children's Centre Mia is continually surprising them.
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