A Tea Dance was a powerful demonstration of culture, resilience and determination to overcome adversity at the University of Alberta Hospital on September 25.
When 16-year-old Dreyson Roasting was in Jasper on a school trip in March 2024 he had an accident that nearly resulted in him losing his leg.
After emergency intervention to stabilize his leg, he had a long journey of rehabilitation that doctors said may have meant Dreyson would never walk again.
However through his strength, cultural practices, and the intervention from the Stollery Children’s Hospital staff and support from Jordan’s Principle, he was able to overcome and live to walk, and dance again.
“I knew I was going to dance again,” said Dreyson in an interview at the Reconciliation in Healthcare event hosted by Alberta Health Services where he danced. “I just wanted to dance and say thank you to all the staff.”
The Stollery Children’s Hospital and Awasisak Indigenous Health Program staff worked with Dreyson and his family to make space for cultural practices within their facilities during his care journey.
“They were really open to our culture. They let us smudge day and night,” said Dreyson.
After the immediate emergency, FNHC staff worked closely with Dreyson and his family to setup supports through Jordan’s Principle during his stay in emergency, as well through his rehabilitation and physical therapy journey which continues today.
“Our staff were able to work with Dreyson and his family to complete a Jordan’s Principle application that resulted in supports being made available for the family to focus on healing,” said Penina Good Eagle, manager of enhanced service coordination with the FNHC. “This is an example where Jordan’s Principle can meet the needs of children and families when it is urgently needed. Dreyson and his family’s commitment to culture and resilience led to this outcome and we want to acknowledge them and wish them well.”
During a very challenging period, Dreyson and his family were able to use cultural practices, as well as the medical system to heal.
“The hard work of the Stollery and the determination of his family saved his limb. (His parents) are both very strong advocates for Dreyson which I believe is the reason he has come along in his healing so well,” said FNHC support staff who worked with Dreyson and his family. “They had to stay in Edmonton away from their home for months while Dreyson had surgery and still have to travel for doctor’s visits and rehabilitation.”
It was a traumatic event for Dreyson and his family and the road to recovery continues for Dreyson but his resilience and commitment to culture was on show for all to see during his recent dance at the University of Alberta Hospital.
“Everybody was sincere and genuine,” said Dreyson’s father Ralph. “They were open to our way of medicines.”
