Emma Parkin

At 16, Emma Parkin knows what it means to face an uphill climb.

"Emma has been a fighter her whole life," says her mom, Tammy McLaren-Parkin. "She was born really early, only 900 grams, and spent her first few months in hospital. By two, she was diagnosed with autism, a developmental delay, and a hearing impairment.”

In January 2025, Emma faced another climb. During a therapy horse-riding session, her horse got scared and threw her off, breaking two bones in her arm.

"I fell and hurt my arm really badly," Emma says. "My dad ran over and picked up my arm, and it was all squished."

Emma needed emergency surgery at SHN’s Centenary Hospital.

"We were so lucky to have Dr. Justin Hodgins and the surgical team take care of her," Tammy says. "The paediatric unit and child life specialist, Alex, made the whole process calm and easy. They really took her fears and needs into consideration."

After surgery, Emma remembers the little things that made her feel better. "I got a unicorn stuffy and two popsicles," she says proudly. "Everyone took such good care of me. They made me feel safe the whole time."

Even being home had its moments of triumph. "I got to miss school for a little while, which was the best part," Emma laughs. "Then my teacher gave me homework, which wasn’t fun. But when I went back, I got to play soccer at recess again!"

For Tammy, who is also a nurse at SHN, seeing her daughter cared for so well was deeply moving. "Being on the other side, as a mom, was amazing," she says. "I’ve always loved working at SHN, but seeing the care my daughter received made me so grateful. The kindness, expertise, and dedication of the staff is incredible."

Today, Emma is back at Maplewood High School, a special needs school in Scarborough, smiling, learning, and still climbing — proof that with the right care and support, every setback can become a new beginning.