Welcoming a new grandchild is one of life’s greatest joys. It fills your heart with such love and hope for the future.
Seeing our granddaughter Scarlett fight for her life from the moment she was born, and work so hard for what most children do effortlessly has been both painful and awe- inspiring. But the rewards have been incredible, hard-earned and filled with pride.
We still remember the first time we saw Scarlett after she was born. She was so tiny, with tubes and wires everywhere. It would be weeks before she came from the hospital, and we were able to hold her ourselves for the first time.
As the months went by, Scarlett’s development was very slow. Because she was born with a rare genetic disorder that affects fewer than 100 people in the world, her future abilities were uncertain. By the time of her first birthday, Scarlett’s development hadn’t progressed beyond that of a baby — she couldn’t yet sit up, crawl, or babble. Our hearts broke at the thought that we might never hear her little voice or see her take her first steps. We wanted so badly to help her — but all we could do was wait and hope.
The MAB-Mackay changed all of this.
After Scarlett’s first meeting with the therapists at this incredible Centre, our daughter and son-in-law called us with the news. They sounded so positive as they described this team that was so motivated to help unlock Scarlett’s inner potential.
We were in the front row to witness Scarlett’s progress. We offered to help by bringing Scarlett to her Wednesday therapies at the MAB-Mackay. What a privilege this was for us.
For more than three years, week after week, we saw the changes. Sometimes, the goal just seemed too far away, just impossible. No matter what, the therapists maintained focus and never stopped believing.
Before our eyes, she had so many incredible breakthroughs. It took a lot of time, perseverance, creativity and “play therapy.” Slowly but surely, Scarlett grew stronger, more confident, more herself. We remember every success — even if it was just one more step, one more word, one more smile.
Scarlett is a real character. She’s funny, feisty, and determined. When she decides she wants to do something, she’ll keep trying until she gets it — and we know that comes from the care and encouragement she’s received at the MAB-Mackay.
In this time, “Team Scarlett” (that’s what we called her therapists) became like family to us. They helped her gain the strength to sit up on her own, to crawl and to reach. And incredibly, she learned to walk and then run. For her 4-year birthday, we bought her a bicycle with training wheels, complete with a pink basket and handlebars, and a pink helmet. You can’t imagine the pride on her face, and the genuine happiness in our hearts, when she conquered the challenge of riding a bike.
Another major achievement was in the area of speech. For so long, Scarlett only smiled and used hand gestures. For so long, we were unsure if she really understood what anyone was saying to her. Through lots of practice to produce different sounds which then turned into short one- or two-syllable words. It’s hard not to forget how far she’s come when she says things like “I love you Babcia and Dziadzia.”
Driving her home from these therapy sessions, we sometimes stopped for a snack or an ice cream cone. Often, Scarlett would fall asleep in the back seat; a well-deserved nap following her hard work in therapy. We talked together about the unwavering dedication of each of her therapists, and how fortunate we were for these consummate professionals who gave our granddaughter such an important gift.
We miss those moments of watching Scarlett shine every week in therapy. Scarlett started kindergarten this fall at Mackay’s adapted school, where she continues to have therapies throughout the day to help her learn to walk in a straight line, use a pencil, cut paper, zip up her coat, and speak in fuller sentences. We can’t wait to go see her school holiday show in December to celebrate her latest successes.
As grandparents, we can’t begin to explain what it means to see Scarlett living her life with so much joy and confidence. Watching her run across the playground or sing along to a song — it’s something we once thought we’d never see.
With profound gratitude for all that the MAB-Mackay has made possible for our family,
Grace and Norm
Proud grandparents of Scarlett