Holiday Campaign
About Kiara
Like you and me, children and youth are discovering life’s wonders for the first time—feeling the chill of a winter breeze, the warmth of shared laughter and finding their sense of belonging. But for some, these moments take extraordinary effort. At Grandview Kids, each step forward in a client’s journey holds the weight of potential realized, a challenge overcome.
For Nerissa and Mahendra, their journey with their daughter Kiara became one of hope and heartache. Like any parent, they wanted to see their child thrive, to hear her laughter fill the room and to watch her dance with joy. But as Kiara’s development unfolded in unexpected ways, they were faced with questions, fears and the overwhelming uncertainty of what her future would hold.
Kiara’s beautiful, infectious smile is made sweeter by her energetic and bubbly personality. She best shows it through her love of family, music and dancing. Kiara lives with her parents, Mahendra and Nerissa, and older sister, Cianna.
Kiara was born prematurely, and by seven months old, she wasn’t reaching age-appropriate milestones—her hands remained clenched in fists, she couldn’t sit up without support and she was unable to coo or babble. She was referred to Grandview Kids, where she was diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP). Later, when Kiara’s parents shared a video of her experiencing body “twitching,” further tests at SickKids Hospital revealed she had infantile spasms.
These diagnoses brought Nerissa and Mahendra’s world to a standstill. Their days were consumed by navigating their new normal consisting of seizure medications, therapies and medical appointments, all while worrying about Kiara’s fragility. But through it all, Grandview Kids was always there. Kiara’s medical and therapy teams provided expert care and reassured her family that they weren’t alone.
Her therapist made her come out of her bubble; she broke the barrier. She was the first adult outside of our family that she warmed up to and was comfortable with.
– Kiara’s mom, Nerissa
How Grandview Kids transformed Kiara’s life
Grandview Kids helped Kiara’s family with everything from early-intervention therapy to recommendations and prescriptions for special equipment and school transition support.
Grandview Kids’ family-centred approach also extended to Kiara’s older sister, Cianna, who received support through social work. “Cianna held things back, not wanting to upset [us],” Nerissa recalls, “but through social work, she had someone to talk to about Kiara, their relationship as siblings and her own life changes.”
As Nerissa recalls, the early years were challenging due to Kiara’s fear of new people. “She would scream the whole time. I wanted to cry, but I had to be strong in front of my daughters.” But everything changed when Kiara started Therapeutic Recreation at Grandview Kids. “Her therapist made [Kiara] come out of her bubble; she broke the barrier. She was the first adult outside of our family that she warmed up to and was comfortable with.”
Over the past four years, Kiara has blossomed with self-confidence, leaving her shyness behind. She’s become a true social butterfly, embracing every challenge with a fearless “I can do it” attitude.
Kiara requires assistance with many of her daily tasks and uses equipment devices such as a wheelchair, walker, ankle-foot orthotics (AFOs) and a right-hand splint. She is described by her parents as “feisty” and works hard to be as independent as possible. She’s now determined to tackle new things head-on, always giving her best effort.
Kiara now looks forward to her therapy sessions at Grandview Kids, and the little girl who once feared people is now striking up conversations with strangers at the grocery store. This year, thanks to the care she’s received at Grandview Kids, Kiara achieved another goal—joining her first extracurricular activity, soccer.
In their search for answers, Grandview Kids became more than a source of care—it became a community of support where professionals see beyond diagnoses and nurture the unique potential of every child and youth. Here, they found professionals who not only understood Kiara’s needs, but also saw the vibrant, determined spirit within her. And as they watched Kiara’s infectious smile return, accompanied by her bubbly personality and love for music and dance, Nerissa and Mahendra knew they had found not just care but hope.
Monthly giving
relies on our family of monthly donors to provide vital programs and services to children and youth in the Durham Region. Join our growing family of monthly donors today and become a Grandview Kids Foundation Life Changer.
One-time gift
Make a one-time gift that will last a lifetime. Every dollar counts when it comes to achieving the Foundation’s dreams for Grandview Kids. Your gift today will help thousands of children and youth in our community to live, learn and play.
Tribute giving
The Grandview Kids Foundation recognizes the importance of celebrating and honouring those closest to us. Make a tribute gift in honour of someone special
today to support the children and youth accessing programs and services at Grandview Kids.
