Angelina

Angelina
Angelina
Born:2003
Problem:CP, triplegia
Attendance: September – November 2008
Progress recorded at: November 2008
Mother Marina: : My daughter has cerebral palsy, damaged are her right hand and both legs. At the moment we started attending hippotherapy sessions we were also had been going to the State rehabilitation center for several years. Horse therapy turned to be just a miracle for my daughter. First progress was with her legs in a month when she started walking held by arms. And then progress with her hand came. Once it was raining and the hippotherapist put a helmet on her head. It was a riding helmet for adults so was big for her and she kept adjusting it on the head with one hand. I was looking at her and suddenly I realized that she is adjusting the helmet… with her right hand! I could not believe my eyes! She was raising and putting her hand on the helmet very slowly but she was moving her hand! We interrupted the sessions because no more could afford the transportation to Ushi. But we are looking to restarting it at the first opportunity!

Hippotherapist's conclusion: Angelina was very scared of horses and dogs. Besides she was quiet capricious. Whenever I would tell her to do some exercise on the horse, she would shake her head and reply very seriously, “No, he (the horse) will eat me.” But in some two weeks we could put her on the horse in different positions without any problem.

She could not walk at all, her both legs and right hand did not work. In a month she started making her first steps held by me. We would walk for a minute after she would get off the horse. In 2 months we extended walking to 3-5 minutes. Her right hand also started working slowly by slowly after we started putting it on the horse and giving reins to the child.

Also very important psychological improvements took place. The child was very attached to her mom and Marina had to walk next to the horse all the way. Besides she would not communicate with the other children attending hippotherapy sessions with her. But gradually she started “forgetting” her mom more and more often and for a long time as well as started getting in touch with other children and adults!