On The Move
Joey is an enthusiastic six-year-old who is always on the move. His beaming smile has been a constant at Bloorview for the past few years and is often seen zooming through the corridors in his wheelchair with his personalized license plate and sunglasses.
Joey always has something to tell you, like his favourite animal is a monkey or his favourite game is to play carwash with his Hot Wheels, but above all Joey loves to laugh. He has a giggle that can permeate the hospital room and fill the nearby hallway. A giggle so contagious it is guaranteed to make those standing by join in.
It’s not all giggles though, as Joey was born with a rare form of muscular dystrophy. His condition keeps him hooked up to a ventilator and requires him to stay in the hospital for long periods of time. Thanks to donors support Joey is equipped with a sophisticated ventilator that is designed to promote mobility allowing him to move more independently. This ventilator provides Joey with something most people take for granted a simple breath.
“Joey is an extremely social little boy. He loves to play and interact with people and having the new ventilator allows him to participate in many things he wouldn’t be able to otherwise, like going to the local public school everyday,” Joey’s mom says.
Over the year’s, Joey has benefited from Bloorview’s comprehensive and specialized complex continuing care. He has used a number of Bloorview services including occupational therapy and speech language therapy. Joey is a big fan of Bloorview’s unique snoezelen bedside cart, the virtual musical instrument and the therapeutic playroom.
Although, Joey attends school each day, he is quite certain that he wants to be a pirate when he grows up.
