The Amazing Impact Five Counties Children's Centre Has Had On 4 Kids Participating With Peterborough Petes On Family Day

Seven-year-old Daniel’s training at Five Counties Children’s Centre has honed his skills to the point where he has been drafted to skate with the Peterborough Petes on Family Day this year.

As the Petes’ Canadian Tire Seventh Skater, Daniel will represent Five Counties Children’s Centre, which is benefitting from partial ticket proceeds and several activities at the Peterborough Memorial Centre at their game against the Sudbury Wolves.

Left to right: Lois Tuffin (Five Counties Children’s Centre), Mitchell M., Mitchell F, Daniel (shooting ball) Peterborough Petes' group sales co-ordinator Drew Nascimento and Elliot. (Photo courtesy Five Counties Children’s Centre)

“Five Counties has made a huge impact on Daniel’s life,” says his mother Tina. “He went from being an observer in social settings, to confidently becoming a participant.”

When Daniel first came in for treatment at age 2, he was choking on his food and could only say a few words. His therapists helped him learn to eat and identified his apraxia (disconnection) of speech. Now he is an active, healthy child who communicates more clearly and plays hockey for the Ennismore Eagles.

 “As his therapist said at the beginning of our journey it was, and still is, like preparing for the Olympics,” his mom adds. “Although we did not see huge changes following each session, the growth has been steady. After many appointments, and perseverance from Daniel, he is able to express his thoughts and ideas through speaking.”

Photo courtesy Five Counties Children’s Centre

Daniel and his teammates will have additional coaching help on Family Day from Mitchell and Mitchell, two hockey-loving teenagers who are also clients at Five Counties.

Mitchell F., 16, started coming for treatment as a baby, but needed more intensive and varied therapies after having a stroke at 18 months. “Mitchell, defying the odds, learned to walk at three-and-a-half years of age,” his mother Anita says. “Despite being told he may never walk or talk, he is a confident and kind 16-year-old, credit earning, Grade 10 student.”

Mitchell is active in two school clubs and volunteered with the football and baseball teams. He has been playing sledge hockey for the past seven years and won the award for Most Dedicated Player for three of those years.

Meanwhile, Mitchell M., 18, began treatments at Five Counties at age one and has tapped into services for physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy—not to mention support from therapeutic recreation, social work and Augmentative Communication Services.

 “They have been on this great journey of developing his speech, encouraging activities of daily living, and assisting with appropriate mobility devices,” his mother Yvonne says. “Five Counties has been an integral part of Mitchell’s quality of life by participating in the increase of his skill level and his mobility.”

The staff have helped him try sledge hockey, borrow an accessible bicycle and try out walkers and wheelchairs until he found the right fit.

Up in the announcer’s box, Elliot, 8, will show how he has found his voice, thanks to his treatments at Five Counties. He will shadow announcer Gord Gibb in announcing the game’s opening lineup.

Born with Weidemann Steiner Syndrome, he initially came in for treatments to get him to crawling to walking just in time to start kindergarten. Due to his autism and intellectual delay, he also needed help to find the proper words to describe items and his feelings.

 “Now, it is almost inconceivable to think that at one time Elliot wasn’t able to express his dissatisfaction or happiness about situations, properly through his speech,” his father Ben says. “The speech sessions help kick-start Elliot’s ability to express himself in a way that the people around him will understand what he is trying to say.”

On Family Day, the game begins at 2:05 p.m. with activities in the lobby for the hour beforehand. Petes’ fans can get their faces painted, play tabletop hockey and build with giant Lego blocks. All proceeds from these activities, plus Chuck a Puck at a Truck, will help more children like Daniel, Mitchell, Mitchell and Elliot to get life-changing therapies at Five Counties Children’s Centre. 

Tickets are available at the reception desk at the Five Counties Children’s Centre at 872 Dutton Road in Peterborough or by contacting Fund Development Co-ordinator Lois Tuffin at 705.748.2337, ext. 380 or by email here.  

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