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Our Wish List

CORE OPERATIONS

Core funding refers to financial support that covers basic “core” organizational and administrative costs of The Darling Home for Kids; the property, the Home itself, utilities, food, communications & marketing, and the direct expenses of the day-to-day work. Without our core operations the Home does not exist! The following are a number of wishes that you can choose from:

Wish List Items – Core operations

Amount

Select

Initials

So Clean it SparklesOur yearly fundraising demand for cleaning services is approximately $10,000

$500

☐

Spreading the WordWe fundraise just over $4,000 per year for marketing services such as participation infairs and open houses

$1,000

☐

Let Your Light ShineDid you know that we have close to 500 light bulbs in the Home! WOW

$1,500

☐

Chill InAir conditioning helps keep our kids cool as a cucumber in the summer!

$750

☐

Warm & CozyHeating and utilities represent a significant portion of our home expenses.

$1,200

☐

Filling Little BelliesHelp us purchase food & sundry to ensure those little bellies aren’t growling!

$800

☐

IT – Doing it Byte by ByteCosts associated with IT support; troubleshooting and fixing technology issues

$1,000

☐

Another Megabytes the DustNew equipment such as hardware and software needs. Severs and Phone systems.

$2,000

☐

Home Maintenance and Improvement Fund

$5,000

☐

Team Work Makes Dream Work – the Admin Zone!

$3,000

☐

CORE PROGRAMS

The Darling Home for Kids, Ontario’s first paediatric hospice/respite centre serving chronically ill children and their families, is a state-of-the-art facility! We provide high quality respite and palliative care services for children who are medically fragile and technology dependent, many of whom suffer from progressive illness. Today thanks to our supporters, it is a place of joy, filled with the smiles and laughter of children engaging in unique and enriching experiences and exploring new and exciting activities. Medically fragile children receive wonderful care in a beautiful, warm and home-like environment, which provides comfort and a break to families facing the daily challenges of caring for a child with complex medical needs. More than 15,000 children in Ontario with special needs require this intensive support, and we are one of only three homes that can provide highly specialized care. We serve a very niche market for the underserved, and as a result finding the funds to meet our budget can be an ongoing challenge. It costs $300 per day to offer our core programing to children in need. How many days will you fund?

Wish List Items – Core Programs

Select

Amount

Initials

RESPITE WING:

Moon Room

☐How many days will you fund?

Treetop Room


Rainbow Room


Star Room


Tea Pot Room


PALLIATIVE WING:

Itsy Bitsy Spider Room


Angel Room


The Itsy Bitsy Spider Room

The Rainbow Room

The Treetop Room

THERAPEUTIC PROGRAMS

Play is powerful! It’s something that kids are supposed to partake in with uninhibited abandon and joy. It also serves as a means to build cognitive and social learning skills. Building these skills in children with various special needs, will maximize their capacity for positive interactions. Each year, DHK strives to provide over 168 hours of recreation therapy across 42 sessions, as we engage children across all of our core programs - respite, palliative and residential care. Each session allows kids to just be kids; to laugh, have fun and play to their hearts’ content! Each session is 4 hours and coasts $140 per session. Will you help our kids to play?

Wish List – Therapeutic Programs

Select

Amount

Initials

Creating Magic with Music!

☐How many sessions will you fund?

Express Yourself in Full Colour!


Play to Your Heart’s Content!


The Therapeutic Power of Water!


Igniting the Senses from Within!


GENERAL WISHES

Every year we build a list of essential items that we need from time to time. In addition, we have a few “would be nice to have” items as well. From your heart to theirs, help us fill this list of wishes!

Wish List – General Wishes

Select

Amount

QUANTITY

Initials

Metal Marshmallow Sticks

☐

$20

Choose Quantity

Play Sand

☐

$25

Choose Quantity

iTunes Gift Cards

☐

$25

Choose Quantity

DVD’s and CD’s for Children

☐

$25

Choose Quantity

Water Mats

☐

$30

Choose Quantity

Arts & Crafts Supplies

☐

$50

Choose Quantity

Gas Cards for Wheelchair Van

☐

$50

Choose Quantity

iPod Shuffle

☐

$60

Choose Quantity

Hydrotherapy Pool Maintenance (1 month)

☐

$100

Choose Quantity

Nosy Cups

☐

$100

Choose Quantity

Inflatable Decorations

☐

$100

Choose Quantity

Crock Pot

☐

$100

Choose Quantity

Vitamix Accessories

☐

$100

Choose Quantity

ION Party Power Bluetooth Speaker

☐

$120

Choose Quantity

Floor Lamp for Tea Pot Room

☐

$150

Choose Quantity

Glitter Gel Wheelchair Tray – Sensory Mat

☐

$250

Choose Quantity

Linens (Towels, Sheets, Blankets)

☐

$250

Choose Quantity

Microwave

☐

$300

Choose Quantity

Range Hood for Stove

☐

$400

Choose Quantity.

Pots & Pans for Kitchen

☐

$400

Choose Quantity.

Snoezelen Equipment

☐

$500

Choose Quantity.

Wet/Dry Bouncy Castle

☐

$650

Choose Quantity.

Full Body Swing for Playground

☐

$750

Choose Quantity.

Customized Front Entranceway Mat

☐

$750

Choose Quantity.

Load Test of Ceiling Track Lifts

☐

$900

Choose Quantity.

Interpreter Services for Resident

☐

$1,000

Choose Quantity.

Park Bench for Pathway

☐

$1,000

Choose Quantity.

Snow Tires for Wheelchair Van

☐

$1,965

Choose Quantity.

Annual Maintenance of All Client Lift Systems

☐

$2,000

Choose Quantity.

Mural in Nurses Station

☐

$3,500

Choose Quantity.

The Darling Home for Kids Driveway Sign

☐

$5,000

Choose Quantity.

Freenotes Harmony Park Tuned Drum Set

☐

$5,500

Choose Quantity.

Mural Painting for Tea Pot Bedroom

☐

$6,500

Choose Quantity.

Maxi Twin Patient Lift Device

☐

$7,943

Choose Quantity.

Rhapsody, Electric Medical Tub

☐

$12,000

Choose Quantity.

2

About Music

Therapy

Creating Magic with Music!

Mackenzie has been diagnosed with three rare genetic disorders. Now 14 years old, she has been going to The Darling Home for Kids since she was five. As a result of her condition, her skills have regressed and her world has gotten smaller. It has now become about providing quality of life for Mackenzie. Throughout her journey, music has always been a constant for her. She is non-verbal, so she can’t express her feelings with words - but with music Mackenzie doesn’t have to speak. She has the opportunity to connect with other people through music; she can feel it and she uses it to communicate her happiness. Music helps her feel safe in different settings and is a calming distraction when she is upset. Mackenzie can’t run or skip and do things that other children can do, but she can pick up an instrument and create music with it. Music Therapy at The Darling Home for Kids is a wonderful program as it helps to bring a big part of Mackenzie’s world back to her.

GET THE FACTS! MACKENZIE’S STORY

Music Therapy

At The Darling Home for Kids, music and musical activities inspire our children and promote well-being. From singing songs, playing instruments and exploring different sounds, this therapeutic program is thoroughly enjoyed by the children, who respond to music in ways that exceed their responses to everything else.

For those children who are non-verbal, Music Therapy offers them the opportunity

to express their feelings, to connect, and to interpret life through music.

Recognized as a “universal language,” this therapy gives a voice to our children, and a form of self-expression that is truly priceless. The simple act of listening to music, hearing the dancing of chimes outside the window, or using the smallest swipe of your hand to strum a guitar, uplifts our children and gives them a sense of peace and tranquility.

Music can be an expression of love, vulnerability, strength, and passion. It is our philosophy that every child be given the opportunity to thrive, in an environment that celebrates their individuality and allows them to express themselves freely. Through innovative programs such as Music Therapy, The Darling Home for Kids is offering medically fragile and technology dependent children unique and therapeutic experiences, each and every day.

Therapy sessions at the Home include one-on-one sessions as well as group sessions, all of which are provided by our trained Music Therapist. Each session is customized based on the children participating, their musical preferences and unique therapeutic goals. Each year The Darling Home for Kids strives to provide over 168 hours of music therapy across 42 sessions, as we engage children across all of our core programs - respite, palliative and residential care.

Bruno is all smiles when he strums the guitar strings Ryder listens and feels the beat of the drum

Mackenzie listens to the Music Therapist play the guitar

“As a Music Therapist at The Darling Home for Kids, spreading joy is the most rewarding part of my job. I remember one client engaging in a long vocal improvisation (almost 45 minutes!). He was singing, making eye contact and realizing that I was singing in response to his music...it was a true musical connection. The children respond so well to the music, and it is a wonderful experience to be able to interact with them in a meaningful way. When they smile in response to an instrument or song, there is no greater reward.”

- Sommer Johnson, Music Therapist, The Darling Home for Kids

www.darlinghomeforkids.ca

To learn more please visit us at www.darlinghomeforkids.ca

Benefits of Music Therapy include:

• Reducing the symptoms of pain, anxiety, depression and nausea.

• Lowering heart rate, blood pressure and breathing rates.

• Facilitates contact and interaction with others.

• Strengthens a child’s abilities by activating the cognitive and linguistic spheres of the brain.

• Supports communication and self-expression without words.

About Art Therapy

Express Yourself in Full Colour

One day while picking up her 2 year-old daughter Piper from The Darling Home for Kids, Erin Gibson was surprised to see paint under her little fingernails. Mom thought, “What is this?” But in her backpack, she found a canvas and a painted T-shirt Piper had made during Art Therapy. Up until then, mom did arts and crafts with her eldest daughter Kaeleigh but never really thought about Piper being able to do that. She thought the dexterity and fine motor skills needed to do arts and crafts would be too hard, but it turns out that something so simple like art is very adaptable and inclusive. Her family doesn’t know why she chooses certain colours or why she laughs, but they’re happy she’s doing it on her own and when she’s done, they hang her masterpieces around their house. They see Art Therapy as Piper’s way of giving them a gift, and proudly display her art on their fridge because they know it is an expression of their beautiful daughter.

GET THE FACTS! PIPER’S STORYArt Therapy...

• is a health service profession based on psychological theory and research.

• employs art and other creative modalities to uncover one’s feelings.

• takes into consideration thoughts, feelings, and behaviours within the therapeutic process.

• can be used to explore issues of family, loss and grief, and development.

Benefits of Art Therapy include:

• Increasing self-awareness and self-esteem.

• Building and developing social skills.

• Helping to change behaviour.

• Resolving or reducing emotional pain.

• Increasing coping mechanisms.

• Developing strategies for problem-solving.

Art Therapy

Art Speaks! Remember that feeling of pride you had when you saw your creation or art hung in the school hallway or on your fridge? When given the platform, children can and will express themselves in full colour, and with complete freedom and creativity.

Art Therapy uses the creative process to facilitate self-exploration and understanding. The primary objective of Art Therapy begins with helping the child tune into his or her creative space. Creating safe spaces that feel comfortable and easy allows children to trust their surroundings and the therapist, allowing

them to set aside any physical, emotional, or mental barriers that may be blocking them from pure expression.

At The Darling Home for Kids, we use Art Therapy because we know it does not rely on language or verbal skills, and therefore it is an accessible modality for all our children. The healing power of Art Therapy lies within the act of making art. It encourages choice and decision making, allowing the child complete freedom throughout the process. The end result, whether it is a canvas, a sculpture or a mug for mom or dad painted with love, reinforces the critical importance of spontaneity, originality, and authenticity to oneself.

Therapy sessions at the Home include one-on-one sessions as well as group sessions, all of which are provided by our trained Art Therapist. Each session is customized based on the children participating, their artistic preferences and unique therapeutic goals. Each year The Darling Home for Kids strives to provide over 100 hours of Art Therapy across 25 sessions, as we engage children across all of our core programs - respite, palliative and residential care.

For our children, a little splash of colour goes a long way. By tuning into their own feelings and imagination, our children are empowered to create beautiful works of art, both on and off the canvas.

Matthew puts paint to canvas to express himself Rachel is all smiles when creating artistic masterpieces

Piper isn’t afraid to get messy when she expresses herself through art

“Art Therapy allows the child to be a child...children need art, and physical limitations should not get in the way of them exploring and growing through art. At The Darling Home for Kids, if kids get messy, that’s a good thing!”

- Becky Hewis, Art Therapist, The DarlingHome for Kids



About Recreation

Therapy

Play to Your Heart’s Content

Rheanne has been going to The Darling Home for Kids since they opened their doors. After getting sick at the age of one, Rheanne was nonverbal, but that didn’t stop her from developing her own way of communicating, including making noise and drawing her eyes towards things she likes.

The Recreation Therapy program at The Darling Home for Kids has many of the activities that Rheanne responds well to. She loves the hydrotherapy pool and she enjoys music. With hand-over-hand help, she participates in crafts where she has the opportunity to take home her artwork, and she likes her time in the snoezelen room at the Home. Rheanne loves all things sweet, and after a taste test in baking, she has brought home cookies for her two brothers to enjoy. Whether participating or watching, Rheanne loves interacting with others and being in the center of it all, both of which are made possible through Recreation Therapy.

GET THE FACTS! RHEANNE’S STORYBenefits of Recreation Therapy include:

• Improving physical and cognitive abilities.

• Increasing confidence and self-esteem.

• Providing a greater sense of involvement in the community.

• Strengthening interpersonal skills and relationships.

• Improving coping and adaptation skills, related to stress and anxiety.

• Enhancing well-being and a sense of accomplishment.

Recreation Therapy

Recreation Therapy is a process that utilizes participation in recreation to enable people with physical, cognitive, emotional and social limitations to acquire and maintain the skills, knowledge and behaviours that will allow them to enjoy activities and function as independently as possible. Therapeutic recreation is provided by trained professionals. (Therapeutic Recreation Ontario, 2015)

At The Darling Home for Kids, through play activities, our Recreation Therapy program

is designed to help engage children in unique experiences that will have a positive impact on their physical, mental and emotional well-being, thus improving their overall quality of life. Our program is inclusive and interactive; it includes activities such as arts and crafts, sensory activities, adaptive swimming, music, games, baking and nature walks.

The Recreation Therapist at The Darling Home for Kids has a very important goal to help make each day a day filled with fun and laughter for our children. As part of our program, various activities are planned and executed, which are selected based on each child’s therapeutic goals.

Recreation Therapy results in a profound learning experience for children and positively influences their functional capabilities and quality of life. But all of those therapeutic benefits are disguised in fun interactive activities, which is the best part of all.

Therapy sessions at the Home include one-on-one sessions as well as group sessions, all of which are provided by our trained Recreation Therapist. Each year, The Darling Home for Kids strives to provide over 168 hours of Recreation Therapy across 42 sessions, as we engage children across all of our core programs - respite, palliative and residential care. Each session allows kids to just be kids; to laugh, have fun and play to their hearts’ content!

Matt enjoys going for a ride on the swing at the playground Meagan gets messy playing with cloud dough

“On my very first day at The Darling Home for Kids, I had planned some sensory play with a big bin of ‘cloud dough’ made out of flour and baby oil. It was also Meagan’s first respite stay and we spent an hour together as we made a HUGE mess playing with the cloud dough. Meagan was showing us who she was - a bit mischievous and a lot of fun! Even better, no one was upset about the mess, as the focus was on providing an awesome experience for Meagan.”

- Sarah Bourbonniere, Recreation Therapist,

The Darling Home for Kids



Rheanne enjoys a nature walk outside

Adobe Acrobat

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The Therapeutic Power Of Water

HOLLY’S STORYBorn with schizencephaly, or clefs on the cerebral hemispheres of her brain, Holly has developmental delays, nausea, vomiting, and is fed four times a day through a gastrointestinal tube. She is not taking any medications, but is given an Advil if she cries from any pain.

The combined effects of Holly’s conditions make her muscles stiff, as a result, one of her favourite activities is to take a break from her wheelchair and spend some time in the hydrotherapy pool. While being held up in the water, Holly’s arms and legs are therapeutically stretched out followed by a relaxing massage, an activity she enjoys very much. Holly certainly reminds everyone around her how fun and soothing hydrotherapy can be.

Hydrotherapy is the use of water-based exercises and treatments to promote health and wellness. Our hydrotherapy pool is a stimulating and enjoyable way for children to participate in therapy which helps condition muscles, increases range of motion, and improves mobility, thus increasing their health and assisting with pain and symptom management. The pool offers an opportunity to engage in recreation and exercise in the comfort of a controlled water environment. Assistance with temperature control, lessening the body’s sensitivity to pain, stress reduction, improving circulation, and encouraging blood flow, all speak to the broad therapeutic powers of hydrotherapy.

GET THE FACTS! • Warm water facilitates muscle

relaxation and increases peripheral circulation.

• Viscosity of water can provide resistance to improve strength and muscle tone.

• Warm water stimulates body awareness and helps to improve balance and stability.

• The reduction of gravitational forces in the pool allows the child to move within the water more freely, and without causing damage to joints.

• Warm water and buoyancy can result in less sensitivity to pain.

Hydrotherapy

At The Darling Home for Kids, many of our children have severe physical disabilities and use a wheelchair for mobility. Our hydrotherapy program gives them the opportunity to experience the power and freedom of movement through the sensation of water. This newfound mobility can have a life changing impact as children feel a sense of weightlessness while in the pool. The hydrotherapy jets in the pool create a massage-like feeling, which increases blood circulation and can help to release spastic or tight muscles. Our staff use the pool to help create a sense of tranquility for our children, as well as to relax tight muscles, relieve stress and anxiety, and improve joint, muscle, and nerve problems. This program is used for relaxation, and to help maintain our children’s state of health. However as with many children, the pool can also be a place of stimulation and fun - a place where giggles, laughter and splashing abound.

Our hydrotherapy pool room is a dynamic therapeutic space that combines the benefits of hydrotherapy with multi-sensory therapy. The room can be darkened to create a magical space with bubble tubes, water features, and fibre optic lights that drape into the pool and make the water glow with soft colours. An underwater oasis is projected with light onto the ceiling with fish that captivate children as they float on their backs, and a ceiling track lift makes the pool room an accessible therapy which children of all abilities can enjoy.


The Darling Home for Kids hydrotherapy pool Chris enjoys freedom of movement in water

Holly experiences the power of water

“Hydrotherapy is one of the activities that

is loved by both the kids and their parents.

Parents are always thrilled to learn that

hydrotherapy will be included in their stay.

It is a very important part of their stay at

The Darling Home for Kids.”

- Laurie LeBlanc, Registered Practical Nurse- Team Leader, The Darling Home for Kids


About Snoezelen

Therapy

Igniting the Senses from Within

Five years ago, The Darling Home for Kids became a part of Callum’s life when he began participating in the respite program. From the moment he arrives at the Home, Callum is drawn to the Snoezelen room. The fibre optic lights, bubble tubes, projections on the wall, the swing, and the mega pod are all exciting sensory experiences, and the gentle movements, lights, sounds, and colours provide a relaxing oasis that evokes a sense of peace for him.

The Darling Home for Kids is the first place that Callum was able to experience the magic of this specialized therapy, and for him, Snoezelen Therapy is a big part of why he loves it at the Home. By nature Callum is a very happy young man, whose senses ignite in the Snoezelen room, which results in joyous smiles and shrills of laugher that are simply contagious.

GET THE FACTS! CALLUM’S STORYBenefits of multi-sensory Snoezelen Therapy include:

• Improving physical health, mood, and attention while providing stimulation and relaxation through the use of color, light, touch, sound and smell.

• Enhancing a child’s sensory experiences.

• Engaging children in their environment.

• Reducing agitation, depression, and apathy helps strengthen a child’s abilities.

• Promotes choice and a sense of empowerment when children are able to select the sensory experiences they want to engage with.

• Encourages fine and gross motor skills as children touch, feel and interact with the various pieces of equipment.

SNOEZELEN® is a registered trademark of ROMPA® Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Snoezelen Therapy

In Snoezelen Therapy, multi-sensory environments are created using visual, auditory, tactile, and aromatherapy stimulation. The therapeutic space can elicit calmness, an overall feeling of well-being, and a sense of security. In an experience completely directed by the child and their preferences, this “failure-free” therapy allows children to engage with the equipment regardless of their mobility, cognitive functioning or sensory abilities. For children who are visually impaired, this sensory-rich space offers bright and engaging colours as well as stimulation for their other, often heightened, senses.

At The Darling Home for Kids, the Snoezelen room provides an enjoyable, multi-sensory environment for our children, with stimuli including bubble tubes with fish dancing in the water, fibre optic light strands that change colours, an interactive star carpet, projectors, and a specialized chair designed to create the feeling that a child is floating on a leaf. While engaging in Snoezelen, children become fascinated and mesmerized by this magical space which entices them to reach out, explore, and interact with the various pieces of equipment.

Multi-sensory equipment extends beyond the four walls of our Snoezelen room and into our hydrotherapy pool room, with bubble tubes, water walls, fibre optic lights strands cascading into the pool, and images of fish projected onto the ceiling. A portable Snoezelen cart allows us to bring the Snoezelen experience into any room in the Home, including therapy at the bedside. No matter how Snoezelen equipment is used, it truly does ignite the senses from within!

Snoezelen can serve as an invaluable interpersonal and relationship building platform for families and children as well as staff and clients. This therapy is used to help integrate new children with anxiety into our program for the first time, it can be a soothing bedtime routine to settle children for sleep, or it can be a lively, dynamic and playful space.

Callum experiences the magic of Snoezelen Cerys touches the fibre optic light strands

Fibre optic lights and bubble tubes create a sensory enriched

space in our Snoezelen room

“On a recent shift, one of our children had to stay in her bed for medical reasons - so we brought her friends to her in her bedroom and wheeled in the portable Snoezelen equipment for a sensory dance girl party in her room! It was good times and was one example of how we can accommodate the needs of the children to ensure they have an incredible stay!”

- Karen Fetter, Personal Support Worker, The Darling Home for Kids



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