Faces of Erinoak
Gavin's Story
In January, Gavin Fraser, at 16 months, could only sit. To get around, he would roll.
In February, he began commando-crawling and then got up on his knees.
In March, he was on his feet.
In June, he started walking unassisted.
And while most toddlers progress in leaps as they learn and grow,
no one expected such giant strides from Gavin. Sometime during his first four
weeks of life, Gavin suffered a stroke that went undetected until the after
effects became obvious at five months of age.
"We noticed he was doing everything with only his right hand," recalls
mom Kathy. "At first, we thought he was just showing a preference,
but then we noticed that his left hand, once open, was now clenched
in a fist and his arm was limp."
A neurologist determined that a stroke was the cause of the weakness
on Gavin's left side, news that came as a shock to Kathy and husband
Ryan.
Born by emergency Cesarean section at 36 weeks due to pre-eclampsia that Kathy was experiencing, Gavin had a shaky start with low blood sugar and jaundice. But there was no sign of anything more serious and Gavin quickly recovered.
"My heart was in my throat," says Kathy of hearing about the stroke. "My first thought was what did I do wrong, and then, how do we get him better?"
It's the second question that has consumed Kathy and Ryan, but through Erinoak, they have the answer.
"If it wasn't for Erinoak, Gavin wouldn't be where he is today," Kathy says emphatically. "There's no question."
At Erinoak, a smiley, bright-eyed Gavin, now 21 months, receives physiotherapy, occupational therapy and is just beginning speech therapy. He has been fitted with a brace to provide stability to his left hand, and a walker, now that he's on his feet, allows him to motor under his own steam.
He has figured out how to pull himself to standing using his left shoulder to make his arm do what it needs to do. Some of his strengthening comes from waving his left hand to keep eight-month-old sister Edie away. "I put her on his left side on purpose," laughs Kathy. "He's constantly waving. Little does he know he's making great gains by doing so."
Kathy says what impresses her about Erinoak is how much the staff members care about Gavin and her family. "When you go into Erinoak, they treat you like you're their most important client. They treat all of their clients like that. I can't brag enough about how special they are."
Her experience with Erinoak has inspired Kathy to volunteer with the organization, using her talents in fashion and interior design to contribute to special events. "I've been lucky enough to benefit from Erinoak's services and I really want to give something back. I feel that volunteering is the best way to do that."
As for Gavin, the happy toddler with the hearty laugh becomes even more determined with each success. You can see it on his tiny face with every task. The great effort he expends is followed by a yelp of joy with accomplishment, and not only from Gavin.
"I'm so proud of him every single day," says Kathy. "He's my little hero. Sounds cheesy, I know but seeing what he accomplishes in one day motivates me. Every morning when we get up, we know we will see something new. We always do."