Life in Paris

Our move to Paris came as a welcomed surprise in Summer 2019. After extensive research, we made an informed decision to select a french school in a nice neighborhood where all 3 of our girls could attend. Simplifying our lives was important, as the daily routine in France is quite different than in London. The girls and I walk a short distance to school every morning and they return home for lunch for 2 hours before their afternoon classes. This mid-day break is a welcome pause for us to exchange stories and incorporate exercise into the day.

At the school gates, mothers approach me to introduce themselves, which feels welcoming. Their daughters speak often about Olivia and they are touched by her beauty and charm. At recess the girls crowd around Olivia to talk to her.  They see her yellow Koala wheelchair as an exciting ‘toy’ that they all want to touch. Due to her strong character, Olivia only lets a select few interact with her!

A school where only french is spoken was important to us, as we see France as our new home for the long-term. Of course the adjustment for the girls was immense, but with the support of their teachers and extra support at home, they have progressed far beyond expectations in only 4 months. Olivia is excellent in math and her brain absorbs everything like a sponge. The girls’ confidence in speaking french has also grown considerably, which we are very proud of!

The team of doctors at Necker Hospital who care for Olivia have shown us incredible support and guidance. Most importantly, they have given us HOPE. In London, I felt we had hit a brick wall with the level of support the 21 medical professionals could offer.  When we left London last summer,  we had just finished sessions with the Palliative Care team. It was a dreadful experience. Now, after only 9 months in the french medical system,  we have a fantastic team offering suggestions and options to give Olivia the best future possible. THANK YOU!  Last month Olivia was fitted with a bespoke corset to wear while sleeping to hold her ever-curving S-shaped spine from further curvature. We know we have a long road ahead, but it is certainly an amazing feeling to hear a world-renowned orthopaedic surgeon tell you that he does not see a reason Olivia should not be walking! She didn’t have the right physiotherapists in London offering her the building-blocks to build the right muscle tone.  After months of contacting various specialists, Olivia now has a physiotherapist in Paris who she really adores offering her physiotherapy 2x/week. It’s has been only 6 weeks and already Olivia has progressed in her technique and built so much confidence.  Videos are uploaded on the VIDEO page of the website.

More updates to come…

With love,

Stephanie xo