VIDEO: Moments That Matter - A digital story by Rhea

Video Transcript:

On the first day of class, my instructor asked, “What has been the best moment in your Therapeutic Recreation journey so far?”

After working as a Recreation Therapist for over 15 years in long-term care, assisted living, transition care, and both young and adult day programs, I had decided to return to school to upgrade my education. I was honoured to receive scholarships from the Canmore Hospital Foundation to pursue my Bachelor’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation. 

That question “What has been the best moment?” Brought me back to 14 years earlier; a woman with tears in her eyes, a hitch in her voice, and a scarf in her hand. That woman was not one of our residents, but the wife of a gentleman who had suffered a stroke years earlier.

She approached me to tell me she had just received a gift from her husband—the first in over ten years. Not only was it a gift, but it was something he had made, a silk scarf, and it meant the world to her. 

Recreation Therapy is a health profession that uses recreation, leisure, and play as primary tools to help individuals with illnesses or disabilities reach their highest possible levels of independence, health, and well-being.

The gentleman I mentioned earlier was part of a men’s-only group that created scarves for their loved ones. Microwave silk scarf making has been one of my most successful programs throughout my 15 years of practice. It is highly adaptable and can be completed by individuals of all abilities. Each scarf is unique and beautiful, and the smiles on participants' faces are unforgettable. 

My years of experience and the opportunity for further education, made possible by the Canmore Hospital Foundation and the Ladies Auxiliary, continuously strengthens my passion for supporting adults to age in place.

Digital Story co-created with Kristy Wolfe