Author: katherineambos

While Jack and Mommy were up bright and early to pick up his new helmet, Madi’s newspaper article with Variety Village were hitting stores and online everywhere. So happy and proud to hear that Madi has helped to kick off the holiday season of the Christmas Fund for Variety Village with donations already rolling in for them and their fabulous programs.

Jack and Madi worked hard at physio at Grandview today. Jack had a good neck stretch and Mommy learnt new neck strengthening exercises to do with him at home. His right side is still a bit weak so it’s something to work on. Madi continues to build strength in her legs.

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​​Madi LOVED walking like a duck and hopping like a bunny at ballet tonight!

Madison played hooky from school today to spend the morning hanging out at Variety Village with Mike Strobel from the Toronto Sun. She did a fantastic job answering his questions about her love of Variety Village and taking fun photos to help kick off their Christmas Fund. 

http://www.varietyvillage.ca/the-sun-christmas-fund/

Thanks Mike!

http://m.torontosun.com/2016/11/14/three-year-old-madi-wants-to-fix-people?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=recommend-button&utm_campaign=Three-year-old+Madi+wants+%27to+fix+people%27

Nana took Madison and Nate to see Raffi in concert at Roy Thomson Hall today! They sang, danced and had lots of yummy snacks thanks to Nana’s never ending bag of surprises! Madison did a great job walking through the crowds in her walker. It was a great concert for both the adults and the kids. Thanks Nana!

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https://www.gofundme.com/madimovesahead

#madimovesahead

http://www.handicareintl.org/SDR/Registration.php

Madi and Jack were up bright and early for a massage with Shannon. Both kiddos had been uncomfortable this week so it was needed for both! Thanks Shannon!

Madi and Tiffany had a play date this morning at an indoor playground! Madi climbed, crawled, slid and played with Tiffany and had a blast. She told us her favourite activity was playing air hockey! Thanks Tiffany!

Madi and Jack spent their afternoon planning for Madi’s surgery! Today’s focus was fundraising planning with a group of family, who brainstormed specificly for online crowdfunding. Thanks to everyone who attended near and far through email, text and at the house! Thanks to Brian and Christina for hosting and for all your help Brian! Madison’s first part of her fundraising campaign will be launched this week!

Thanks Nana and Papa for entertaining the two monkeys while Mommy and Uncle Brian worked on the campaign.

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Jack had an early morning getting fitted for his new helmet

Madison had a special guest visit music circle at school today….Bram from Sharon, Lois and Bram lead music circle today! Madison loved singing peanut butter and jelly and Skinamarinky dinky dink… The teachers, volunteers and parents were more excited then the kids! 

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After school, Madison’s best buddy Ben gave her a special gift….matching pj’s! Ben has Mickey Mouse and Madi has Mini Mouse! Thanks Ben!

Madi then headed to physio with Stephanie at Variety Village. She experimented with different Spio clothing and shorts to help give her extra support with standing posture and walking. 

Jack loves trying to do what his sister does

One of Madison’s favourite parts of the day is walking down the ramps after school to go to the car. She is so strong and confident now in her walker that she tries to lift her legs in the air to ride down the ramp in her walker.

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Madison and Jack spent some time with Pam and Medford this afternoon while Mommy was coaching. They had a great time having dinner and playing together all over the house. After dinner Nana & Papa picked them up to go home while Mommy and Daddy were at Parent night at Madison’s school. Papa chased Jack all over the house while Nana and Madison played with Madi’s play food and read books before bed.

Mommy & Daddy met with Madison’s teachers to discuss her goals for this school year, checked out her favourite activities and saw lots of work samples. They also presented Madison’s written plan for the year. She is happy, participating, being challenged, being independent and doing so well! CICC is the best!!!!

Madison was super proud to share her home journal from school today. She cut out her first triangle and diamond shapes all by herself!

After a fun afternoon at conductive ed, Madison headed to the pool. She wore her mermaid bathing suit tonight and did an amazing job in the pool. She tried doing some swimming by herself doing doggy paddle, practiced bubbles, bobs, walking and most impressively- she did some back floats with Ryan only having to hold her up using a few fingers. She is getting more and more confident and strong in the water and LOVES it!!!! 

She was so proud of herself after her shower at the pool. She stood on the bench to stand under the hair dryer all by herself! 

Madisons physio today went really well. The focus during her sessions with Kate have turned to exercises that strengthen Madisons feet and legs to prepare her for surgery. They played different games that incorporated squating to standing, strengthening her dorsiflexion muscles, leg lifts to strengthen her lower quad muscles, raising up and down on her toes to strengthen her calf muscles and doing leg curls to strengthen her hamstrings. Madison started these exercises about 3 weeks ago and we are already seeing a huge improvement with her ability to do each exercise and the strength she has exhibited in doing them.

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​​Being able to provide Madison with all of her different therapies that have given her strength and mobility has been truly life changing. She would not be where she is without the love and support of family and friends who have moved mountains for her. Having family support her through the Mike GREGOIRE Memorial Golf Tournament has been a big  reason why she can do all of the things she does like physio, swimming,  horseback riding, conductive education etc. and recently, help her get ready for her surgery in the spring. The tournament is in remembrance and honor of Mike GREGOIRE who left us far too soon, but was always a big supporter of family and helping others. When Lisa presented the funds raised from the tournament last night she mentioned that Mike would be very happy to know that Madison was one of the receipients from the tournament. Thank you Lisa, Patrick, Jessica and the entire committee for always thinking of Madison, cheering her on and giving her the gift of mobility through all of the things she will continue to be able to do to prepare her for St. Louis. 

Madison loved her time with Sassy today! She worked hard and loved showing Suzanne and Michelle all her tricks – like lying down and reaching forwards and to the side. 

Mommy and Daddy had a super exciting meeting tonight so Aunt Nadia babysat! Just as Mommy finished tidying up all the toys before leaving, Jack and Madison ripped through them all and the room was a disaster. Madison loved playing with play dough with Aunt Nadia!

Tonight was a very important night in Madisons life. Around 35 friends and family gathered for an information sharing meeting on the SDR surgery that Madison will be receiving this coming spring. Although she was approved a few months ago, tonight truly felt like the beginning of her amazing SDR journey. Mommy and Daddy were very overwhelmed with the amount of support that filled the room and felt extremely grateful for the positive energy, willingness to help and pure love for Madison to help give her the amazing opportunity of living life spasticity free. Information was shared on why the surgery will be of benefit to her, what the surgery involves, when it will happen and some of the logistical factors surrounding an initiative of this scope- such as fundraising. Lots of great questions were asked and a follow up meeting will be scheduled in about 4 weeks to discuss more specifics of what needs to happen and to share ideas. 

After the information sharing was complete, everyone enjoyed lots of yummy treats and mingled to discuss ideas and options for moving forward with certain things for the surgery. Mommy and Daddy were then presented with a cheque from the golf tournament from Lisa, Kathleen and Theresa and on behalf of the other golf tournament committee members. They presented a cheque for Madison for $13,000! She is well on her way to what is needed for surgery! Thank you again to everyone who donated to the tournament, participated or helped out! We feel truly blessed to have such supportive friends and family to give Madison the chance at living the life she wants, in the way we know she wants to live it. 

Madi and Jack had a great morning with Nana & Papa being silly, playing games, doing puzzles, telling jokes, dancing and having lots of laughs.

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Madison was excited to go see Aunt Emily and spend the rest of the day at The Royal Winter Fair! She loved feeding the goats, seeing the piglets, watching the horses jump and petting a cow. They even watched Daddy do a mounted unit demonstration with the Toronto Police. Madi did an awesome job walking around in her walker and LOVED taking the Go train home. Thanks Aunt Emily for a great adventure!