When sixteen-year-old Drew suffered a traumatic spinal cord injury, he spent weeks in Toronto learning to adjust to his new life as a teenager living with a disability. His largest hurdle wasn’t just his physical recovery or rehabilitation, it was also the mental change. Drew couldn’t play hockey anymore and was missing out on the bonding that happened in the locker room, on ice, and during tournament trips out of town. He felt deeply disconnected.
After Drew’s time in Toronto, it became associated with memories of painful recovery, uncertainty, and adjustments, and Drew wanted to change those feelings, especially for when he returns to the city for future appointments.
Since the age of five, hockey was important to Drew, especially feeling connected to his favourite team, the Boston Bruins, admiring their perseverance, teamwork, and learning gameplay tips. With hockey being such an important part of Drew’s life, he worked with Shine to combine his love of the sport with a newer outlook on Toronto to create a positive experience of the city.
Drew and his friend experienced a Toronto hockey trip beyond their imagination. They stayed at the Royal York Hotel while visiting top attractions: Ripley’s Aquarium, the Hockey Hall of Fame, and an Illusionist in addition to the hockey game.
On his last night in Toronto, Drew and his friend Zach watched the Toronto Maple Leafs play against the Boston Bruins at the Scotiabank Arena. With the new Bruins jersey from Shine, Drew and Zach watched an exciting game between the two rival teams that had people on the edge of their seats as it went into overtime.
The best part of gameday for Drew was being so close to the glass as the Bruins played on the ice. The icing on the cake? The Bruins won big against the Leafs, which Drew used to “stick it” to his hockey-loving friends at home. His hockey dream was a chance for him to once-again share some hockey stories, bringing back the sense of connection he greatly missed.
After facing so many recent physical and mental barriers as a result of his spinal cord injury, Drew’s Shine Dream showed him that he is capable of more than he thought. “I used to feel embarrassed being in public in my wheelchair, but my Shine Dream gave me the confidence to go out and not be worrIed about it. I don’t care as much about what others think. Wheeling around Toronto helped me realize just how far I can push myself, how far I can go.”
