My Green Place
 What do a sleeping bag and a teddy bear have to do with a success story? Well, Sandra Bellamy will tell you they were the keys to making a major transition a success for her son, Michael.
Eight years ago, Sandra felt she needed a break for own health and well-being. Michael has special care needs and severe allergies. She needed to find a respite resource. There were very few options open to Sandra where she knew Michael would receive the care and support he needed. Sandra learned about AiMHi’s Children’s Respite Residence and decided that this might be a place where Michael could go and have fun while she rested and regenerated herself.
Sandra knew it would be a tough transition for Michael. He hadn’t stayed away from home before. Sandra looked for a way to help Michael get excited about being with new friends and doing new things while she created a better balance in her life.
Sandra noticed that Michael watched his older brothers go stay at their friends’ houses. They took their sleeping bags with them. The idea was hatched: Michael would be encouraged to stay at AiMHi’s Children’s Respite Residence with his sleeping bag and teddy bear.
Sandra found AiMHi employees very helpful. They asked her to talk about some of the challenges Michael has, discussed new menu ideas and possible fun activities, or they asked about his special care and how to make his visit go smoothly. Sandra now wishes she’d known earlier what she knows today as she would have started taking Michael to the respite home earlier. She hadn’t imagined it would be such a positive experience.
There was a time, for about a year, when Michael faced serious health concerns. Michael’s medical professionals advised Sandra to keep things as normal as possible for him. She continued to schedule him in for respite stays, confident in the quality care that was provided at the respite home.
Today, Sandra can’t say enough about the wonderful experience. She is very grateful to the AiMHi employees who have always showed immense compassion for Michael. After a successful eight years, his visits only get better. There are things Michael really looks forward to, like having an early morning visit with Sandy (an AiMHi employee) before the other kids get up. “He never puts up a fuss,” says Sandra, “and that speaks volumes.” Michael calls the house “My Green Place”, and he can’t wait for his visits. You’d never know that eight years ago it took creative planning and dedicated people to make this a success. Sandra says it’s like a second home to Michael and one where the teddy bear is welcomed too!
Kory Tucker
There are many experiences in life that shape us, test us, our willpower and our resolve. Yet by working through difficult times we become aware of our own inner strength and learn more about who we are.
Kory had the opportunity of finding out ‘who he was’ when he faced a serious situation. Kory, who lived with his parents until he was 30, moved into an AiMHi Supported Living Home as his family was experiencing some health concerns and were unable to care for him any longer. It was soon after Kory’s move that he started to experience his own health related concerns which were a direct result, as he later learned, of his eating habits and food choices.
Kory’s health was robbing him of his independence, for instance he had difficulty walking up stairs and he was not able to walk long distances without the help of others. He had difficulty staying awake during the day and yet at night he could not get a ‘good nights sleep’. By the fall of 2005 he was diagnosed with sleep apnea and type-two diabetes. Kory experienced congestive heart failure and respiratory failure which resulted in hospitalization. Shortly after this Kory was required to use oxygen, using it 24 hours a day; it was evident that his body was slowly tiring of the disease.
The disease significantly impacted his enjoyment of daily activities. Kory couldn’t do all the things he loved like swimming and going for walks, there were some activities that he could engage in as long as he didn’t over exert himself. Kory, no matter how poorly he felt, could never miss a party or a gathering with his friends and family. He loves being out with his friends and family, so when these events came up he would summon all of his strength and go out to join in the fun! To see Kory at these events you wouldn’t realize how physically challenging it was for him because he was always smiling, happy and he was the most enthusiastic person there. Yet none of us could avoid the ‘elephant in the room’, that ever present oxygen machine he called his ‘buddy’ which wobbled and rattled behind him everywhere he went.
It was also evident when Kory’s weight reached 252 pounds, which was an astounding figure considering his height is only 4’10” that he needed to make some major life changes. And so began the first steps towards better health, first by losing weight. This would not be an easy road to travel for the average person no matter how enthusiastic they were. No easy road for Kory, especially as he would have to battle the impulsive compulsion to eat caused by a syndrome he has called ‘Prader-Willi’. Prader-Willi Syndrome means that he has an insatiable appetite, an obsession for food which cannot be cured by surgery or medications.
Yes it would be a difficult journey, but Kory he had a great team behind him and it wasn’t long before Kory started to change his eating habits. This change was a slow process and the changes he made started out small. The food he ate and how it was prepared as well as the portion size all played a role in his slow weight loss program. Kory managed to stick to the regime and over a two year period he was able to reach his goal weight! The date was March 20, 2008, which was the day Kory stood on the scale and read the magical number below with great satisfaction.
Kory now weighted in at 133.4 pounds. He had lost 160 pounds! The best part of losing the weights was the fact that he also saw great health improvements. Kory’s diabetes was in control with every blood sugar level reading normal. His need for oxygen ceased and the machine he had used at night time was also no longer necessary. Kory was no longer facing critical heart related health concerns and he started to literally run with his new found freedom!
The physical changes allowed him more mobility; he did not need special equipment like the extender for his seat belt and the oxygen tank. He bought and wears ‘trendy’ clothing that fits him well. He could walk around his neighbourhood, running and walking as he pleased. He could go downstairs anytime independent of others and does so several times a day to work on the computer. Kory could go swimming again, and that was something he had longed to do. The best reward of all was going on ‘out of town’ trips! 2008 would bring trips to Quesnel to compete in bowling events and a vacation in the Okanagan with his friends; without the worries of planning around medical concerns and equipment.
Kory continues to live with the symptoms of Prader-Willi Syndrome, but now he knows and respects his limits. He makes good choices, eating smaller portions and drinking water or low calorie drinks rather than loading up on empty calories. He is very active and this helps keep the weight off. To me Kory is a champion, he faced his ‘Goliath’ and he won wielding his greatest weapon – his positive attitude and his every lasting enthusiasm for life. Congratulations Kory!
A Nice Surprise
 One year ago my husband, Jerry and I adopted our beautiful little daughter, “Suzanne”. Our son, Joel was eleven and was delighted with the prospect of a sibling. Prior to being adopted, Suzanne was in a loving foster home and also under the care of an Infant Development Worker, Carol Burbee. Carol worked with the AiMHi Infant Development Program and continued to visit Suzanne after she was placed in our home at six weeks old.
We always looked forward to Carol’s visits because she was a wealth of information and it was an opportunity to show off Suzanne’s progress to someone who had known her from birth.
Carol always arrived with the answers to any questions we had, and always brought a bag of developmental toys, aids and literature. Carol told me about Infant Massage, something that had not been available when Joel was a baby, and Suzanne and I attended. She also mentioned the Skill Building Library at AiMHi so we decided to check it out.
I was delighted with what I found! There were shelves and shelves of toys, books, games, puzzles, and parenting resources. Did I mention Lego, musical toys, baby toys and puppets? As a mother, I found this fantastic! We began to bring home a box of toys and exchange them when Suzanne had mastered them, or no longer showed an interest.
I am a Therapeutic Tutor using the Orton-Gillingham Multisensory Technique to help children with learning difficulties. I am always interested in teaching aids and found many at The Skill Building Library. There were many games to enhance math, reading and writing skills, activities to streamline fine motor skills and heaps of toys that build gross motor ability. The Skill Building Library has an abundance of books at many different reading levels. If you are an educator you will be delighted with what you find both older and recent additions. Many of the games could be used in a classroom setting or with a group of students. They also have many toys that are just plain fun! It is great because you can try a variety of toys with out spending a lot of money. They have resources that can be used from birth and into the teen years.
The Skill Building Library was opened in 1982, and is managed by volunteer Gillian Taylor. The library offers educational toys suited to a variety of needs, such as language development, numbers, colors and shape recognition. Gillian is very supportive and offers information about the skills each toy will help develop and keeps track of what is coming and going. She keeps everything clean and orderly and even helped me carry things out to the car!
The Skill Building Library is under-used. Many people do not realize it is there, and that anyone can access the resources. You do not need to have a connection with AiMHi to enjoy the treasures you will find there. If you are a parent who wants to help your child learn her times tables over the summer, to teach your four year old to count and learn his shapes, or just bring home some cool new games and toys for them to play with, I hope you will check out the AiMHi Skill Building Library. You won’t be disappointed!
Joanne
The Skill Building Library is free to the public, and is supported through fund-raising events. The hours of operation are as follows:
Tuesday: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Friday: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
A Little Hope
In March 2007, Carolyn Moorman moved to PG with her son Robert. The move was planned around a career change and Carolyn was hopeful of a better life in Prince George. Yet what Carolyn learned quickly was the service system she needed to support her son Robert was complex and confusing.
Carolyn’s son Robert was born with Down’s syndrome and Autism. Carolyn is a single parent trying to manage with extraordinary circumstances. Robert requires constant care and he rarely sleeps through the night. These are some of the reasons that Carolyn needed to reach out to the community services. Carolyn was at a loss of where to start, but with the help of her Family Physician and someone at AiMHi, she was guided through the complex service system. She quickly realized that the service system was not perfect. Fortunately, many good people worked together to help make the process manageable. Eventually, Robert was deemed eligible for services funded through Community Living BC.
Carolyn recalls her connection with AiMHi and says, “It just took someone who had some knowledge of the community and the services to assist me. It made a world of difference.”
Carolyn now receives services through AiMHi and she finds them exceptional. She receives respite support through the AiMHi Children’s Residence Respite Home and she has the support of the AiMHi Family Support Program. It doesn’t take much to offer a little hope. For Carolyn, simply knowing that she can have a break every so often when Robert goes to the Children’s Respite Residence is brilliant as she can look forward to a full night’s sleep while he is away. That alone has made a huge difference. There has been financial support as well; the At Home Program provides medical supplies and extra medical coverage for Robert. Yes, these few supports including the people who now surround her have made a significant difference for Carolyn and her son Robert; the difference is that life is now manageable. Today Carolyn can really enjoy her time with Robert and has time to just be a Mom.
Carolyn and Robert
Workplace Fun!
Since we spend half of our waking hours at work, our work environment needs to be fulfilling in more ways than one. Linda Ash found rewarding employment when she secured a position at Riley’s Restaurant with support from Work Options at AiMHi.
Linda is somewhat new to the team at Riley’s Restaurant having started her position on April 2008. Since that day Linda has become very close with her teammates, and they have grown to admire and respect her.
Riley’s partner, Janice Boys, speaks highly of Linda saying ‘She fits in with the all girl team, and she can take a joke as good as she gives a joke.’
Janice found Linda to be a perfect fit for the company; Linda has incredible work ethics and is always willing to pick up extra shifts. Janice feels that Linda doesn’t slow the company down; in fact she is an asset due mostly to her good spirits and genuine personality. Linda works in the back of the restaurant, but when it is busy out front Linda steps in to assist by handing out menus and pouring coffee for the customers. She’s just the type of person you want to cover your back when the going gets tough.
Linda was a breath of fresh air for the Riley’s team; she has an infectious giggle and enjoys the banter back and forth which makes the work environment fun. Linda has a very quick wit, and tosses out the feisty comments with a twinkle in her eye. It’s the type of environment that will withstand the test of gentle teasing making that team bond even stronger.
Linda loves her job saying ‘They are good to me, and they take care of me – they are always watching out for me.’ Linda likes the unpredictability of the work, as she says ‘you never know what you’ll get, it may be busy, it may be slow, but that’s the fun of it.’
Yes Linda has found her ideal work place on the ‘Riley’s all girl team’ sharing her work days with others who enjoy workplace fun as much as she does.
With Grace and Ease
There is a lot of talk these days about balance, and balancing work and play. Work is just as important as play. There are a number of clichés that we can recite like: ‘Idle hands are the Devil's workshop’ or ‘Many hands make light work’ or my favorite clichés, ‘All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy’.
Tegan, I believe has found the secret to balancing her work and play, which is amazing considering she juggles 4 – yes 4 part-time jobs!! She works in the AiMHi Document Scanning Department, the AiMHi Kerry Kitchen, and the AiMHi Mobile Crew and at Value Village.
Tegan likes her busy schedule – she like the people at Value Village and AiMHi, and she enjoys the change of pace when working in the AiMHi Scanning Department which is solitary work.
Tegan’s social life is balanced nicely with her busy work life. Tegan, who has been involved with Special Olympics for many years, played for 5 teams this year: Soccer, Basketball, Rhythmic Gym, Snow Shoeing and Swimming. Yet, that's not all; she also joined a team in the Ladies Soccer League, playing for Myatovic Construction Ltd. Tegan shrugs off the idea that she is busy, she says that she likes the people at work and at play and it’s the people that make it fun. Tegan really likes and believes in Team Work.
Yes Tegan has found a nice balance between her busy work life and social life, and I think I found out her secret to keeping track of her busy schedule. It’s her cell phone – Tegan enters all her appointments and work schedules into her cell phone. She has mastered the phone without reading the manual – she is a bit of a wizard that way – she also helped her Uncle figure out his new GPS without reading the manual……… I guess she’s just of ‘that’ generation.
So, armed with her cell phone Tegan meanders between her 4 part-time jobs, her 6 Sport Teams and her other random appointments with grace and ease! Good for you Tegan – you are a role model to us all!
Growing Pains
Growing up and becoming independent can be a scary transition. Yet, not everyone experiences the same type of growing pains because each experience is relative to our unique situation. Jordon’s experience was one of frustration mostly; this was due to lack of choice as to when he would move out. Jordon wanted his independence more than the average person, mostly because he had to fight for it. Jordon has a developmental disability and epilepsy which meant that he needed extra support to live in his own home.
When Jordon turned 24 years old, much to his chagrin, he was still living with his parents. Jordon’s parents were very active in advocating for him, they helped tell his story to the people who could help make his dream come true.
Finally in 2006 at age 25 Jordon was given the good news, at last he could move out into his own home supported by AiMHi.
Today Jordon is happy, he shares his home with a roommate and is enjoying life as he gains his independence. Jordon’s day to day life is full, he volunteers for ‘Meals on Wheels’ and almost daily Jordon connects with friends and family taking in all that the city has to offer. Yes Jordon’s dream came true, a dream that is universal and familiar to us all, although Jordon had to fight a little harder to achieve it.
"When we are motivated by goals that have deep meaning, by dreams that need completion, by pure love that needs expressing -- then we truly live life." Greg Anderson
One For All and All For One!
What do Jenny, Danielle and Shannon have in common? It is the sacred bond of friendship. They are comrades, brought together during that tumultuous time of becoming a teenager, and at a time when true friends make all the difference. All three young ladies met while attending PGSS, which is a very large school and without friends it can be a very lonely place. Friendship is what has kept them safe and secure at school. Danielle specifically remembers her first day in grade 8. She was shy and insecure with her new school and that’s when she was given the gift of friendship. Jenny showed her around the new school and eased Danielle's fears.
These young ladies share other common interests as well - they are all athletes involved with Special Olympics and they all receive services from AiMHi. They thrive on their involvement in Special Olympics and their time spent learning at AiMHi. One of their favorite days is Fridays which is a jumble of laughter and learning. They start the day off by volunteering in the PG Self-Advocates Caucus Snack Shop, then they go out with the Life Skills Instructors’ from AiMHi to learn and get involved in the community. They end the day back at the AiMHi Gymnasium to take part in Special Olympics – Rhythm Gymnastics.
They do have a lot of fun together – living each moment for the moment, sharing a laugh and never forgetting the more serious side to life as they plan for their future. The AiMHi Life Skills program offers many opportunities for the young ladies to learn – Danielle says “I like the Bullying Prevention Group on Saturdays the best.” They also take part in the ‘Friday Night Fun Group’ where they plan out the evening based on the funds they have available. This provides an opportunity to learn a myriad of skills for their future independence, including budgeting, banking, saving and experiencing natural consequences when (and we’ve all done it) they overspend.
When asked, each of them had something special to say about being friends. Shannon enjoys the special days together such as spending time at the Library. Danielle likes the support of her friends and Jenny says that life would be boring without friends. Friendship is critical to these young ladies and they seem to have made a bond that will last forever.
Brandi, their Life Skills Instructor has observed the young ladies as they work together and she has witnessed their special relationship; saying “they really support one another without smothering, they give each other a chance to learn without taking over, and they recognize that they each learn at their own pace.” Yes they each have their own personal goals which they are working towards, but regardless, they are there for one another – like the ‘Three Musketeers’. And they live by that motto too, ‘One for All and All for One’.
Robert
Finding a new job can be an exciting experience, especially when you find the perfect place to work. Robert Chroschinski knows this because he’s found his perfect job. He just started working as a shop helper at NorGate Autobody. His employers Casey, Rhonda, and owner Ken are absolutely thrilled with the level of professionalism and work ethic that Robert brings to his new team.
Robert found help getting his job by coming to Infinite Employment Solutions. He knew what job he wanted. He told the Career Counsellors he wanted to work in a shop and that was it! Robert has a mild developmental disability. He knows his true strengths are when he works with his hands, can use his head for numbers, and can show his hardworking personality. These skills are what make him the perfect employee. Robert knows the challenges he faces are what make him the person he is: hardworking, honest, and professional. His new boss, Rhonda, says that Robert brings much to his new team. She says the best thing about Robert is “his smile. It’s as big as he is and he is always helping out others. He never complains about the job or tasks he is given, he goes out of his way to go above the call of duty and if there is no work to do he finds some so that he is never just sitting around. How can you not appreciate an employee like that?”
Robert says, “I am here to do my job and I will do whatever I am to do -- and that’s that.” Robert is very no-nonsense person. He says only what needs to be said and nothing more. You can see the type of person he is by how he works. His boss, Rhonda, says “it is very rare to find someone who is as sweet, kind, compassionate and extremely hardworking as he is. He is such an asset to our family team. He gets along with everyone. We are very fortunate to have him as an employee.”
Roberts comment was just as straightforward. “I like working here. I am not bored and Casey is a good boss. Now I have to get back to work.”
Finding the right job for the right person is the goal of everyone looking for the perfect job. NorGate Autobody has looked beyond the disability and found an employee who is hardworking, reliable, and a terrific asset to their team. Robert has a place that appreciates his unique talents and skills.
Congratulations Robert and the NorGate Team!
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