Health & Wellness Magazine Community Of Caring - Summer 2019 | Page 29

ENHANCING
FUTURES
ENHANCING
FUTURES
BY: MEGAN FORD, CLINICAL MANAGER
MOMENTUM DEVELOPMENTAL SUPPORT
decision. The team keeps him safe,
and they give me peace of mind. I
don’t worry about him as much.”
“For the most part, I like it,” says Sean,
noting that he’s still taking some time to
adjust to the team and that he doesn’t like
having to let them know where he’s going
all the time. But then the conversation
quickly turns to the things he enjoys about
this new living arrangement—the great
meals the team prepares, the ongoing jokes,
and the activities they enjoy doing together.
LAST FALL, Sean, a young man living with
cerebral palsy, decided to join Momentum,
and he is now starting to adjust to his
new living arrangement with his new
roommate. An engaging conversationalist,
Sean warmly welcomes us into his home
to speak with him and his mom about
how things are going now that he’s
approaching eight months with the team.
“It was a difficult decision,” recounts
his mom, “but when I met the team
at Momentum, I knew it was the right
“Yes—his cousin’s two little boys. They
even invited them because they know
how much his nephews mean to him,”
adds his mom. “They’re so considerate.
The staff think of everything.”
“Now that I’m done with school, I’m
going to start volunteering at the SPCA,”
notes Sean, beaming as he begins
to recount the pets—both dogs and
cats—he had growing up. One pet
particularly stands out, and he begins to
tell me about Mojo, his childhood cat.
Sean’s interests are plentiful, and he
lights up as he talks about them. The
conversation starts with details about his
bike—three-wheeled and bright blue
with a basket—which he uses to run
errands and get around town. He enjoys
spending time outside, whether going
for a walk around the block, helping his
neighbours to clear their driveways in
the winter, or getting out of town to visit
family in Twillingate or Bell Island. “What else was special about that cat?”
prompts Mom, and Sean’s smile widens.
A recent graduate from the Stella’s Circle
Transition to Work Program, Sean learned
Mental Health First Aid, Emergency
First Aid, interview skills, and more. He
delivered a speech on graduation day
and returned home after the ceremony
to a surprise gathering at his house. “We have a better relationship now, too,”
adds mom. “We have Sunday dinners
here after church. I bring nanny and we
share a meal. Him and his grandmother
play cards. We used to go to my mom’s
on Sundays—she’s 88—but since he’s
been here, he’s invited us here and it’s
really nice. The space is so nice and
now nanny wants to come here.”
“That was a big shock,” Sean says as
he lists all the people who had come
out to celebrate, including his extended
family and most of the Momentum team.
“I teared up on the day of grad … not
because the crowd was overwhelming,
but my two nephews were there.”
“He only had three legs,” Sean exclaims,
“but he could keep up with the dogs
across the street no problem!”
Through the Momentum Centre, a
bi-weekly social and developmental
program offered to Momentum clients,
Sean has reconnected with friends from
childhood and built new relationships.
To learn more about the services
Momentum offers, visit:
www.momentumsupport.ca
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