Welcome!
Who is Butterflies & Brains:
Butterflies & Brains Support Services started in February 2008.
Carol Solis is the founder of Butterflies & Brains. This all started when Carol’s daughter Selena had a stroke on October 6th, 2007. Carol has always wanted to help children and knew in her heart that this was her call.
Selena is very much involved in the charity as she is the spokesperson for us. She understands what happened to herself and other children. She also knows that not everyone can afford all the extra things that a child will require to get better. Selena is very involved in helping others. She is the ambassador for McMaster Children’s Hospital for 2008. She has given speeches and has been involved in many different events for the Heart & Stroke. At the end of the day, Selena wants to create awareness about children having strokes and also raising money for the ABI children so that they can get ahead!
Hear a radio interview with Carol on Web Talk Radio show "Game Changer," hosted by Elfreda Pretorius: Interview with Carol
Carol, created a song for her daughter because she knew that even if Selena was in a coma she could still hear. Part of the song goes like this: “Selena is going to walk and talk sing and dance, she can and will do anything at 110% very soon.”
Being at Bloorview Kids Rehab, where Selena was an inpatient for close to 5 months made Carol that much more convinced she had to start Butterflies & Brains.
There is little to nothing out there for Acquired Brain Injured children (ABI). We are her to assist children that have an ABI and their parents. Through support, therapies, education (tutoring), swimming lessons, etc….Anything that will help the child get ahead!
Why Butterflies & Brains?
The name came about when Selena was in the hospital and her brain was swollen due to the bleeding (hemorrhage). When there is swelling in your brain, the center will shift and it looks like a butterfly on an MRI scan. When this happens the person will lose their motor skills, it must be dead centre in order to have them. So the first chant that Carol made up for her daughter when she was in a coma, that “the butterfly is in the middle and the swelling has gone down.” All friends and family as well as strangers either prayed, chanted or wished to the Universe that very same chant. Guess what? The swelling went down and Selena had to relearn to walk and talk but she can do it now!
Where is Butterflies & Brains?
At the moment we are located in Oakville, Ontario but would like to branch out everywhere so we can assist children nationally.
What are we trying to accomplish?
Mission Statement:
Butterflies & Brains is dedicated to raising public awareness of the signs and symptoms of Stroke and Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) in children; to provide financial and emotional support to children, and their families, recovering from ABI.
Mandate:
To advocate on behalf of ABI children to receive more therapies and education that will allow them to excel in their recovery.