Thu 27 Apr 2017 A special outing

Hospital School Karina helping Elise with maths

After re-jigging our weekly timetable, Stuart enjoyed staying with Elise today. Well, Thursday was just another day, virtually a waiting line of people outside of Elise's door for scheduled and unscheduled appointments. Maybe, it was a bit busier than usual, especially as we had a special afternoon outing. This morning was busy... OT cancelled as sick, physio, teacher, clinical psychologist, 2 x specialist doctor meeting, lunch, another physio session ...phew...Elise had a break and rest, then off to afternoon event - horse riding.

Horse riding! Now who heard of an inpatient going horse riding! Tanya, a lovely physio organised a para equestrian horse riding training session. We had no idea what to expect...how will they get her on the horse? Will she just fall off? What about nerve pain? Etc etc...so we prepared her, well, Stuart did anyway..."if you just get on the horse that will be an achievement...don't expect to be riding around." That was after Elise asked me if they would let her do jumps!

It was great. I have never experienced a real professional horse trainer going through their paces. She was good, very good. Elise loved it. The Physio's loved it...trunk control...head up, look forward, tuck in your tummy, shoulders back, lean forward, relax your knees (she can't) and so on for half an hour. Tomorrow will be a day of rest and gentle (read sore) movements. The Physio's have decided it needs to be a regular event, they were tickled pink. You can imagine the physical, mental and emotional benefits...something she can do and is only good for her! There are very few activities for paraplegics that help significantly with balance, trunk control etc. It costs $85/30min fee, apparently NDIS will probably, hopefully, pay for it.

In case you are wondering...they use Velcro and rubber bands to hold her legs and feet down - very high tech.

Incidentally, she also got to meet a disorderly looking bunch of elite horse riders...gold at Athens para-olympics, the rest I've forgotten. Stu typically organised a group shot, I'm usually lost in the moment to think of practical things such as pictures.

elite horse riders

Click below for lots of videos
https://goo.gl/photos/fnW1x8QuQViupFTeA

Click on the Right for a whizzo movie of Elise's big moment.