Re: The Rosie Sparkles Thread
 

Such wonderful news, I hope all goes well with Rosie's homecoming :) My niece plays sledge hockey, they are strong and powerful women on the team I am sure Rosie is up for the challenge.

P

Re: The Rosie Sparkles Thread
 

The family were on my mind this week too so that is a super update. Best wishes to everyone for this transition. :thumbup:

Re: The Rosie Sparkles Thread
 

I'll be going to the Bastille Day fireworks display later tonight.

I'l be thinking of Rosie Sparkle's homecoming when the rosy sparklers go off. :thumbup:

Re: The Rosie Sparkles Thread
 

Another update........ and Rosie's home!!!

Home to stay!

And so, Rosie’s eight-and-a-bit months of being an inpatient have come to an end. After 59 days in ICU, another five weeks in the Continuing Complex Care unit at Mac Kids, and five months at Bloorview (with occasional forays back into the Mac fold), we packed up her room, piled everything into the car, and headed home.

Rosie is never keen on long drawn-out goodbyes, so we managed to make a fairly quiet exit from Bloorview before our journey across Toronto. A quick pause at Sugar Beach to look out across the hazy harbourfront, and then a stop for a late lunch, meant we arrived home in mid-afternoon having given the contractors enough time to finish up a few last touches to the house.

The ramp to the front door is a big hit. The freedom to come and go as she pleases, without needing to ask for help to get in and out of the house, will make a huge difference to Rosie’s independence. It has been admired by many friends and neighbours, too: importantly from Rosie’s point of view, it looks very much more like a landscaped path than a wheelchair-access ramp, and has been declared a worthwhile addition to the house.

Inside, the modifications are a bit more temporary: we have a beautifully made barrier-free bathroom on the main floor (thank you Dan and Factory Tile Depot for your help!) which is wonderful for the here and now but comes with several compromises to everybody else’s convenience; this will eventually be taken out again when longer-term changes are made to the house. But all of those compromises, and any amount of small inconveniences, are worth it for the sake of having the family back together under one roof. Even the sound of bickering – which the three kids were doing merrily within the first hour, as if nothing at all had changed – is sweet music to our ears (although the management reserves the right to change our opinion on that front at any time without notice!)

Re: The Rosie Sparkles Thread
 

Such good news. I'm sure the squabbling will become old soon but wonderful to hear at the moment.

Re: The Rosie Sparkles Thread
 

The best two words I've read in a very long time. Rosie's home :heart:

Re: The Rosie Sparkles Thread
 

Yes, great news, and I'm sure she will continue to improve much quicker in her own home environment. :thumbsup:

Re: The Rosie Sparkles Thread
 

Thanks for posting, Siouxie, you beat me to it! (I was out all day yesterday!)

Here is the Facebook link with a picture of the 3 kids in front of the house: https://www.facebook.com/TheRosieSpa...type=3&theater

A fantastic update and love the last line from the parents having all three kids back under one roof!!! :wub:

Welcome home, Rosie!!!

Re: The Rosie Sparkles Thread
 

Love all the photos, and the comments about the sledge hockey and the offer for some of their people shows just what can happen when people repost things.

Re: The Rosie Sparkles Thread
 

The last Rosie Sparkles update. https://www.facebook.com/TheRosieSpa...08307992681156

Wheels up, destination TBD

A lot has happened in the 319 days since the accident last November. We’ve gone from hoping that Rosie would survive the day, to watching her thrive, back at school with her friends; exactly where she should be! Rosie’s return to Sunningdale has gone remarkably smoothly due to the incredible Mr Silvestri and his amazing team. Rosie is delighted to be back with her classmates and is busy zipping around the corridors and out playing soccer at recess. By all accounts (admittedly mostly Rosie’s) she’s quite a good goalkeeper!

Outside school, Rosie is back singing with her choir, doing lots of physio (not her favourite!) and is about to take up sledge hockey. Her social life is as extensive as ever and one is never quite sure how many young ladies might be in the house at any given time! Between Rosie and the boys, we are happily all over the place, just like we used to be.

Because of this Rosie has requested that we stop posting on the Rosie Sparkles page. She is adamant that everything is normal now and there are no great accomplishments to report. Obviously, we think that everything she does is fabulous but we will honour her request and this will be the last Sparkles update. All through this journey (one that none of us wanted to be on) Rosie has been the first to say “it’s OK” and that “it will be alright”. She’s had her moments of sadness and anger but in general her attitude continues to astonish. She just gets on with it and we all just get on with it right along with her.

But we haven’t been alone for the past 319 days and for that we must thank all of you. Whether you are family; or neighbours and friends; or friends of neighbours and friends; whether you are nearby or on the other side of the world, we owe you a massive debt of gratitude. Thanks to you, every step we’ve taken has been supported and strengthened through your kind words, hugs, delicious meals, gift cards, donations, and incredible fundraising skills. Thanks to you we’ve been OK both emotionally and financially and we’ve been able to purchase the amazing high tech pink wheel chair that makes Rosie sparkle indeed!

We also can’t say goodbye without mentioning the tireless work of the wonderful people at McMaster and Bloorview – we will be forever grateful for your care and for our Rosie. We look forward to working with you as Rosie grows, and with the awesome folks at ErinOaks Kids.

As we sign off, we are excited for the future. There will be some major renovations on the house next year, we are anticipating good times spent in hockey rinks as well as concert halls, and the kids are planning extensive travel scenarios! Whatever happens, we’ll follow Rosie Sparkles’ example and just get on with it!

Such an amazing girl and family, I truly am in awe of them and all they have been through and where they are now. I love the attitude of just getting back to normal life. What a brilliant reminder of the strength we have in times of adversity, and how perseverance and love can pull you through.

Sending so much love to Rosie and family. xoxo

Re: The Rosie Sparkles Thread
 

Yes ! I wish there were a love button like on FB.

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Fantastic news :thumbsup:

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Yes, I fully agree, she has been such a wonderful example to us all as to just what can come out of adversity. :thumbsup::thumbsup:

Re: The Rosie Sparkles Thread
 

What a truly wonderful update.

Re: The Rosie Sparkles Thread
 

Yes she certainly is!!

Rosie you are :starsmile: