Imagine being a vibrant 5-year-old child. Days filled with wondrous adventures, running through magical forests, digging make-believe treasure as imaginary pirates chase you the entire time. Now imagine being a vibrant 5-year-old and not being able to do any of those things.
Amelia experiences this type of challenge everyday; wanting so badly to do certain things that her little body does not allow her to do. But one thing she does get to do is ride at Storybook Farm, and enjoys every part of it.
When Amelia was 6 months old she was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis –a genetic disorder that particularly affects the lungs and digestive system, and makes kids who have it more vulnerable to repeated lung infections.
“She is very susceptible to germs in the environment that the rest of us aren’t,” said Theresa, Amelia’s mother. “Cystic Fibrosis effects the sodium chloride channels in her cells, which makes the mucous in her body really thick and sticky so it affects her sweat glands, digestion and lungs.”
It also affects her endurance, she fatigues quicker than kids her age, and it affects her posture.
Amelia has to take breathing treatments twice a day, once in the morning for an hour and 30 minutes at night. She also has to take enzymes before she eats, to help her absorb food properly. Amelia’s tiny frame makes her lack of nutrient absorption evident, but by her huge cheerful smile, you would not think she was fighting CF.
“She is not really aware of it [Cystic Fibrosis], but she is reminded of it when she has to take her medicine, then she question things,” Theresa said.
Theresa said one day Amelia asked her about it. “She asked me if she will always have it, and when I told her she would she smacked herself on the head and said, ‘oh my goodness,’ and sighed.
But when she comes to Storybook Farm to ride, all of the worries and stress she undergoes from dealing with CF go away, and she is free to be a vibrant 5-year-old girl.
Theresa heard about Storybook from a parent at a charity walk for CF. They researched it, contacted Dena and in 2009 Amelia began her first session.
Since her arrival Theresa has seen physical and spiritual changes in her little girl.
“Riding the horses has helped her posture and endurance,” Theresa said. “Amelia counts down the days on the calendar until she can come back, she loves coming to Storybook.”
Amelia loves art, so she especially enjoys our More! Activity time, where she gets to make crafts, color and play games, after each riding session.
Although Amelia has CF and is sometimes held back from truly living, she clings to the hope of an adventure-filled future. This hope is the hope Storybook Farm stands for, the hope that gives hundreds of obstacle-stricken children a chance of stress-free, fun-filled days of being a kid.