Find a Printable Version of Bria’s Story Here

Bria has received support through Five Counties Children’s Centre, and her mom, Jessica shares more about the family’s experience here:

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“Bria is our cheerful seven-year-old and her outgoing nature draws friends and family close to her. It’s like her personality has its own gravitational pull. She is very physically active, and you can find her skating, swimming, tobogganing, biking, hiking and taking part in boxing classes.

“Without being told, you might not realize that Bria was born eight weeks premature, weighing just three pounds. As new parents it was scary. Bria had lots of issues that we didn’t know how to deal with. We were transferred between hospitals and then referred to Five Counties, so we were able to get her the help she needed. When Bria wasn’t hitting her milestones as a baby, Five Counties offered us so many options and we took all the help we could get. It was a complete whirlwind of programs and services.

“From the person who answers the phone to the person who greets you at reception, to all the therapists we’ve had, there is an amazing team at Five Counties. They’re kind, inclusive and welcoming… you never feel like a burden on anyone. Every time we have a new therapist, it is an easy transition. Bria has received speech therapy since she was eighteen months old, and we’re never worried when she switches to a new therapist. They are all so good! She also saw an occupational therapist to help with rolling, crawling, and walking and now no longer needs that support. Five Counties has been so attentive to her for all her needs.

“The therapists are always looking out for Bria. They flag concerns and check to make sure if she needs any additional help. Bria didn’t always require the additional help, but it was reassuring to know they were checking all possibilities and help was there for her if or when she did need it.

“Bria’s main goals live outside of therapy. She loves sports and boxing, and she wants to have fun with her friends. Therapy is a way of getting there for her. She doesn’t even know she has any delays, and she doesn’t know she’s missing anything. There is no stigma at Five Counties; she sees a therapist and thinks they are just playing games and having fun, because they are. In reality, she is also practising, learning, and growing so she can do all the things she is excited about outside of Five Counties.

“Because the services have been so great, we don’t have many challenges that stand out. It used to be hard to take Bria out of school to get therapy, but now she sees a therapist in the school so it’s even more seamless. Therapy is always evolving with us, and we are so grateful that it does.

“Her speech has improved so much over the years. Every challenge that we’ve had we were able to tackle with the help of Five Counties therapists. They always make it work and we can move on to the next challenge. Because of that, most of her challenges are not on-going. She works on them and surpasses them.

“Five Counties creates a warm, welcoming, seamless, and amazing experience. It is a huge benefit to our communities and to families to have these programs covered financially. It’s an incredible relief for parents to know they don’t have to figure out how to pay for these services to get our kids the treatment they need to be their best. We are so appreciative of what they do for families!”

Category: Testimonials