Lisowski Family

​

The Lisowski’s are a family of five consisting of parents, Mike and Cheryl and their three sons, Joshua, Isaac and Benjamin. In early childhood, each of the three boys were diagnosed with Cabeza syndrome, an intellectual developmental disorder which also severely affected their ability to speak.

​

Mike and Cheryl were blessed with the birth of their three sons, Joshua in 2005, Isaac in 2008 and Benjamin in 2011. Soon after Joshua was born, there was a noticeable delay in his development which led to many visits to various specialists including those in genetics, neurology and child development. At the time, the tests came back inconclusive and Joshua was diagnosed with having a developmental delay. When Isaac was born, similar delays were also seen. Again, more testing came to the same conclusion and a diagnosis of developmental delay was made. In addition to the developmental delay, Isaac was diagnosed at a year of age with an autoimmune blood disorder that required weekly visits to the hematology department at Cancer Care for seven years until he was discharged. 

​

Benjamin was born with his own set of challenges, fighting a severe lung infection which kept him in the neonatal intensive care unit for three months where he was on a ventilator keeping him alive. On Great and Holy Friday, Benjamin’s condition was worsening and Mike and Cheryl were told to say their last goodbye. With this news Mike and Cheryl made the decision to have Benjamin baptized in the hospital. Three days later on Easter Sunday, his condition started to improve. He spent the next two months in the hospital recovering and was discharged with home oxygen. It took seven months before Benjamin’s lungs were healthy enough to be taken off of the oxygen. It was also during this time where Benjamin was diagnosed with the same development delay as his brothers. Several years later, in 2017 a new test became available to sequence the boys’ DNA, and the diagnosis of Cabeza syndrome was made. 

​

With the help of the Open Access Resource Centre through the years the boys have been gifted iPads which they use as communication devices giving them a voice.  These devices opened up a whole new world for the whole family. One where the boys could express their wants and needs.  One of the yearly activities the boys are involved in is Camp YAAC. Every summer the Open Access Resource Centre offers a camp for children who use communication devices. This camp gives the boys an opportunity to converse with others who use the same devices as they do. 

​

Joshua, Isaac and Benjamin enjoy school and are part of their school communities. The boys are all part of the Individualized programming, which caters to those with special needs. In these classes they learn valuable life lessons in being part of the community.  Both Isaac and Joshua have competed in special olympic sporting events, bocce ball and Isaac competed in the 100m race. They both volunteer at an assisted living complex, Isaac sings in a special needs choir at school. 

​

All three boys love helping out in the kitchen with mom and dad, every year the boys plant a garden and tend to the garden as it grows. Joshua has a love of books, you’ll usually find him sitting beside the bookshelf with his nose in a book. Benjamin and Isaac love the great outdoors and love exploring their neighbourhood. They are always up for an adventure.

​

Life with three children having developmental delays comes with its challenges. It has been through Faith that the family has gained strength to meet the daily challenges they face. Praying with the boys and teaching them about their faith has also been an important part of their growth as a family. 

The church family of Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church has been a constant support. One of prayer, guidance, encouragement and indeed much needed laughter. 

​

Mike and Cheryl have come to realize how much of a blessing these three boys are to them  and to those whose lives they have touched. 

​

In Mike and Cheryl’s own words, “We know that the Lord has placed these three angels into our lives for a purpose. We have been witness to how the boys bring out the best in everyone they meet, and in ourselves.”