“The care that my child received went above and beyond”: Inside the exceptional pediatric disability care at Holland Bloorview
Plus, from March 6 to 13, dare to increase access to care with Capes for Kids
If you ask seven-year-old Willow what she likes to do best, colouring and playing in the sandbox top the list. “And photo shoots,” says Willow’s mom, Alisa. “She’s been having a lot of fun!”
As a 2026 ambassador for Holland Bloorview’s annual Capes for Kids campaign, Willow is stepping gleefully into the spotlight to help to shine a light on the heroic work happening at the hospital every day.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2026, Capes for Kids revolves around Capes Week, during which participants wear red superhero capes everywhere they go. It’s a fun, fashionable way to give back, raising funds to support the vital research, programs and services at Holland Bloorview while raising awareness about the hospital—which Alisa credits with transforming her daughter’s life. “Their approaches to therapy, to everything, is so different, so unique,” she says. “The physiotherapists, occupational therapists—they’re amazing.”
Diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP) as a toddler, Willow endured a battery of tests and procedures before undergoing SDR (selective dorsal rhizotomy) surgery at age five. She then spent three months at Holland Bloorview recovering—and blossoming.
Alisa says the care Willow received went “above and beyond,” from the helpful and considerate nursing staff to the hospital coordinating much-needed access to speech therapy and an augmented and alternative communication device that would have otherwise been out of reach. Alisa says she’s especially grateful for the clinical expertise and compassionate, thoughtful care of their developmental pediatrics fellow, who ensured Willow always felt, seen, heard and understood. “She was really, really professional and sweet,” says Alisa. “She would come in and just say hi during rounds, and talk to us for a few minutes. Willow really enjoyed meeting with her.”
Developmental pediatrics is a key part of what makes Holland Bloorview Canada’s hospital for kids with disabilities. Developmental pediatricians see children with concerns in one or more areas of development, such as communication or motor skills. Holland Bloorview’s unique fellowship in this field provides immersive training for the next generation of developmental pediatricians and fills urgent gaps in care in the process. Having the fellowship at Holland Bloorview allowed Willow to build a relationship with her physician over time, enhancing the doctor-patient understanding and delivering a more personalized approach to Willow’s care.
But Willow’s time at Holland Bloorview was about so much more than simply healing from surgery; it was, as Alisa says, transformative. Within a week of arriving, Willow started to attend school on site. Soon after, she added activities such as cooking classes, swimming and bike riding. Her roommate, Amelia, quickly became her new best friend. “They were really hard to get to bed at night because they were howling and playing and just having a blast,” Alisa says. “Parents would be walking past their room, laughing, because the girls would be so loud and so excited all the time.”
Being surrounded by other kids with disabilities, including other children with CP, was instrumental in Willow’s growth and development—especially around language and speech. “It was so nice for her to experience a whole classroom where everyone had walkers and wheelchairs and mobility aids and different assistive devices,” says Alisa. “Willow started opening up more. She was more vocal in her class, which was great, and adapted a lot faster than I thought. She really wanted to go and socialize with other kids. And talking all the time actually helped her language development, too.”
Like Willow, Alisa’s life has also been transformed thanks to their time at Holland Bloorview. It’s alleviated the stress of finding the right care, and the other parents she met during Willow’s three-month stay—especially Amelia’s family—provided a much-needed support system at the hospital and beyond. “We’ve become super close with them,” Alisa says. “We’ve gone to each other’s birthday parties and other events together, and Amelia’s mom and I talk regularly. I really appreciate the relationship we have with their family.”
Do you dare to wear a cape to help transform the lives of kids and parents just like Willow and Alisa? Fundraising for Capes for Kids begins in January 2026, then get ready to wear your cape during Capes for Kids Week from March 6 to March 13. Visit capesforkids.ca to donate, register and learn more.
