Pivotal moment. Two words with such a strong meaning, the term pivotal moment means a critical moment or a precise point in time. My first conversation with Kayla was precisely that: a pivotal moment for my daughter Rosalee and her journey with Cerebral Palsy.
Parenting any child is a journey. You are trying to navigate this world's do's and don'ts, but having a child with exceptional ability adds an extra layer of difficulty to that journey. Our family was very new on our journey with the diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy, but even more so, the diagnosis of Bilateral Hip Dysplasia. We were told that she would need surgery before she was age five by several different orthopedic surgeons. Due to this information, I began researching anything and everything I could for ways to help combat hip dysplasia. That is how I came across hippotherapy, which quickly led me to Mending Arrow Ranch.
It should not come as a surprise to anyone, but having a child with an exceptional ability can be costly. My family was drowning in medical debt, and our daughter was only three, but we were willing to do whatever it took to avoid a major surgery. Remember those two words at the beginning of the story, pivotal moment? I vividly remember the conversation with Kayla; I explained Rosalee's story and what we were looking for and took in all the needed information. I had waited until the end to ask the dreaded question, "How much do your services cost?" Kayla responded, "There is no charge; our ranch functions on grants and fundraisers in an effort not to cause a burden to the families we serve." I burst into tears while on the phone, and I finally felt like I was successful in achieving something in this journey called parenthood.
Rosalee and I showed up for her first session in our matching Cerebral Palsy Awareness shirts, ready to show Cerebral Palsy who was boss! From day one, Kayla and Haylee Beth became like family to us. They welcomed us with open arms and made us feel right at home. During these first few years, Rosalee would have x-rays of her hips every six months to evaluate the severity of her hip dysplasia. I am thrilled to report that our daughter is now ten years old. Her hips were only slightly out of place, and we were able to avoid the surgery that multiple physicians said we were destined to have. I do not doubt that this outcome was due to Kayla and, at the time, Cupcake, the pony who started Rosalee's love for horses, dedication to providing services to Rosalee to help strengthen her hips, legs, core, fine motor skills, social skills, and passion for animals.
Mending Arrow Ranch impacts not only the rider but also the family as a whole. The services and support they provide are truly a blessing to this community. I cannot even begin to fathom where my family, most importantly Rosalee, would be without the love and support of Mending Arrow Ranch. Thank you for all you do.
