Benefits of WHR Experience Extend Beyond Camp

Horizon serves 800 families with special children. During Summer ‘07, Nancy and other Horizon therapists brought Gussie (pictured with her mom and Britta llama) and other children afflicted with hemiplegia for a family camp at Whispering Hope Ranch. Hemiplegia in children is due to a number of different causes including blood vessel disorders (stroke), infection, trauma, tumors, and other rare conditions that cause disease or injury to the motor centers of the brain, resulting in paralysis of one side of the body. The most common cause of hemiplegia in children is infant stroke or childhood stroke.

As this was their first year at camp, Horizon chose to bring children with hemiplegia because the condition can be more predictable (stable). Having seen the benefits of the WHR experience for special children, they would like to provide this wonderful opportunity in future years to children who are more severely challenged and require more care.

Nancy told us that Gussie’s experience at Whispering Hope Ranch, “turned her life around!”  “She was a different person after camp!” exclaimed Nancy. During a reunion Horizon held for families who attended camp at WHR, Gussie’s family cried tears of joy when relating their experience and the wondrous changes they saw in their little girl.

Prior to coming to camp Gussie didn’t like others to touch her. She shied away, which made working with her in therapy a challenge. Gussie didn’t like to try new things and was a very ‘selective’ eater.

The beautiful little girl blossomed at camp. Gussie made new friends, tried new foods (including jello for the first time) and  even enjoyed ‘therapy’! Nancy explained that the children served by Horizon participate in LOTS of therapy. Part of the beauty of the WHR experience for Gussie and other children with challenges is that they receive therapy without realizing it—or, as Nancy puts it—it just happens naturally at the Ranch! Reaching out to hug Britta, riding Mac in the arena, playing catch with WHR counselors, balancing jello on a spoon—these new experiences are fun as well as therapeutic. Gussie took from her WHR experience a new sense of adventure. She is now open to trying new things and has warmed to working with her therapists.

I n addition to summer camp, Horizon Pediatric Therapy is interested in exploring family retreats during the non-summer months to provide the WHR experience to more of the families they serve.