This holiday, Hailey’s family celebrates her progress in communication and connection
Holidays in Hailey’s family mean spending time with relatives and of course, a giant turkey dinner. Sam and Jacqueline and their two kids, Hailey and William, alternate between spending Christmas with family in BC or Ontario.
And this year, there’s even more to celebrate: a newfound hope for Hailey’s future.
Hailey’s life began with frightening health complications. She was born with a heart defect – the pulmonary valve supposed to help move blood from her heart to her lungs hadn’t formed correctly. This meant Hailey needed open heart surgery when she was only four months old.
In the years following, her parents noticed mobility delays and at two, Hailey still wasn’t speaking. Worried about her development, they tried speech therapy, but Hailey could only get infrequent appointments, at most once a month.
“Everything felt uncertain,” says Hailey’s mom, Jacqueline. “There is also a pressure I felt because everyone always says that the earlier the intervention, the better the outcome for your child.”
Looking for answers and a path forward for Hailey, her parents applied to Variety for an autism assessment grant. Within months, she was diagnosed with autism, offering more clarity on how to move forward.
Her diagnosis means Hailey has access to critical government funding for therapy to help with her speech, self-regulation and motor skills.
“It felt like doors were opened to her,” Jacqueline says.
“Hailey now sees a speech therapist and occupational therapist weekly, as well as getting the opportunity to participate in aquatic therapy which has been a huge plus. She’s happier and I’ve seen huge improvements in her development in a few months.”
Jacqueline still worries about whether Hailey will feel accepted and included. Hailey loves being with other kids, but playing with them and picking up on social cues can be challenging. “She loves to watch, but I hope she will learn to be involved.”
Hailey started preschool in the fall, and her parents have already noticed that she’s become more attentive to other kids. Hailey is also learning to use assistive technology to help her communicate. Now, she can press a button to indicate when she wants more of something or wants to continue playing.
Hailey is a sensory seeker and enjoys having many people around. During the holidays, she loves getting cuddles from her grandmas and playing with her uncles (between her parents, she has seven of them!). This Christmas, Hailey and her family have more ways to communicate thanks to her regular therapy sessions.
“It’s so exciting to see her world open up,” says Jacqueline.