Evelyn leans back carefully as she recalls the feeling of reaching the top of a climbing wall - hands steady, legs strong, determination guiding every move. An avid outdoors athlete, she used to rock climb and cross-country ski competitively, pushing herself to go faster, higher, and farther. When she’s not outdoors, Evelyn is just as passionate about quieter pursuits  - she’s a huge Taylor Swift fan and loves getting lost in a good fantasy novel. 

“I like the challenge,” she says referring to rock climbing. “You just keep going, even when it’s hard.” These days, that freedom looks a little different, but the spirit is still there - resilient, focused, and hopeful.

A new kind of climb

Evelyn, 15, who lives in East Gwillimbury, Ont., with her parents and twin brother, was diagnosed with scoliosis, a severe curvature of the spine, at 13.  She began experiencing unexplained breathing issues and persistent pain in her spine during activities. Her mom Michelle noticed that Evelyn’s Grade 8 graduation dress didn’t rest equally on her hips. After a trip to the doctor, Evelyn was diagnosed with scoliosis, a moment that brought both answers and new challenges.

“Even though I was having a growth spurt I did not gain any height – it’s because I was growing sideways!” Evelyn says.

In a relatively short period of time, the curvature, or “Cobb angle,” of her spine progressed dramatically making a treatment called “halo gravity traction” (HGT) necessary prior to surgery. For a total of five weeks, Evelyn was a patient at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, where she underwent HGT to gradually reduce that curvature and develop resilience in her spinal cord in order to achieve the best outcome from spinal fusion surgery at The Hospital for Sick Children. 

Caption: The complex continuing care (CCC) inpatient team at Holland Bloorview supported Evelyn during her stay as part of a new clinical pathway and partnership with The Hospital for Sick Children  

During her time at Holland Bloorview, she spent 22 hours of every day in HGT with 38 pounds, approximately half of her body weight, carefully suspended to help straighten her spine over time. The process can be painful and uncomfortable, requiring both physical and emotional endurance.

“It can be really hard sometimes,” she admits. “But I know it’s helping me get ready for surgery.”

She is one of the first few clients to come to the hospital’s HGT program as part of an innovative new care pathway developed in partnership with SickKids. Previously, patients like Evelyn would spend the entire pre-surgical period in the acute-care hospital. Now, thanks to this collaboration, clients can stay at Holland Bloorview for up to six weeks before surgery in a rehabilitation environment designed to support every aspect of their well-being.

For Evelyn’s mom, Michelle, that difference has been profound. “Being here has changed everything,” she says. “It doesn’t feel like we’re just waiting for surgery. They’re helping Evelyn live her life while she prepares for it.”

More than medical care

Caption: Evelyn attended the Bloorview School for six weeks during her inpatient stay 

Each morning, instead of staring at hospital walls, Evelyn heads to Holland Bloorview’s on-site school. There, she keeps up with her studies alongside other students. 

“I like going to school here,” Evelyn says. “It makes the days feel more normal.”

She participates in daily physiotherapy sessions to reduce pain and maintain her strength and mobility, even while in traction. Afternoons sometimes include art therapy, where she loves to paint or draw.  

Visits on Tuesday nights from therapy dogs bring an extra layer of comfort, helping Evelyn cope with being away from home and miss her own dog a little less. A special highlight of her stay was a visit from several Toronto Blue Jays players, a moment that brought excitement, smiles and a welcome distraction during a challenging time.

Caption: Evelyn and her mom enjoyed daily outings in Spiral Garden  

When the weather is nice, Evelyn and her mom often spend time in Holland Bloorview’s Spiral Garden, soaking up the sunshine, taking in the view of the cherry blossom trees and enjoying a much-needed breath of fresh air together—small moments that help make a hospital stay feel a little more like home.

Michelle says those moments matter deeply. “She’s not just a patient here,” she says. “She’s still a kid. She’s learning, creating, laughing. That means everything to us.”

Building a new pathway of care

Behind the scenes, Evelyn’s care is supported by Holland Bloorview’s complex continuing care (CCC) inpatient team. Over the past year, the team trained extensively in partnership with clinicians at SickKids to safely care for HGT patients, developing a pre-surgical clinical care pathway for youth with scoliosis. “I’m really thankful for the positive attitudes and supportive team. Everyone looks out for both of us –  you don’t just feel like a caregiver, you feel like you’re part of the team.” 

Michelle, a high school teacher, also appreciates the teaching and learning environment that is on full display at Holland Bloorview. “It’s reassuring to know how prepared the team is, but to also see them still learning,” Michelle adds. “You can see how much thought and care has gone into this program. 

Their work allows patients like Evelyn to receive specialized medical care alongside wraparound supports in a rehabilitation setting, an approach that helps ease what can be a stressful and painful time. “I like that I can help the team learn and pave the way for future patients,” she adds. 

Looking toward the summit

Evelyn still dreams about climbing a boulder wall or strapping on her cross-country skis. While her recovery from surgery will be lengthy, she’s hopeful that she will get back to at least one of those activities at some point in the future. And while her current journey looks different, it shares the same core: patience, courage, and determination.

By: Erin Pooley

Photos by William Lam