Support Those Who Supported Me
I never thought walking was a privilege — until I temporarily lost the ability.
Being able to walk and raise funds for the community that helped me restore that ability is something that would have felt impossible not too long ago.
When I was seven years old, I began experiencing severe back pain. I never would have guessed that what I was feeling would end up having such a significant impact on my life. I was eventually diagnosed with spondylolisthesis and referred to SickKids, where I was told I would one day need surgery.
Since 2020, I’ve undergone five spine surgeries, including my most recent one in January 2025. Looking back on all of them, I remember wishing for one thing: to regain my ability to walk.
Each surgery challenged me in different ways. I remember my third spinal fusion being particularly difficult. I was stuck in bed for days, unable to do so much as sit because of the pain. When I was finally able to get on my feet, I realized that without something to help support my weight, my legs couldn’t hold me up on their own. I used crutches for a while, until I could finally trust my body to hold itself up.
I recently began transitioning from SickKids to Toronto Western. In January I had my first surgery at Toronto Western Hospital. Adjusting to a new environment was stressful, but my fifth surgery went smoothly. I am excited to be back on my feet, and slowly getting back into my routine.
I now want to fundraise to give back to the community that took part in helping get back on my feet time and time again, and to support others who, like I once did, are grieving an ability they didn't realize they would lose.
Thank you to everybody at UHN! 💛
