Our friend Demetri was recently featured in Woman’s Day Magazine with his therapy horse, Sweet Pea. The two first met last year at an infant development center in Kansas. Demetri is deaf, nonverbal and legally blind, which are common characteristics of CdLS, but made an instant connection with the miniature horse.
Although he cannot stand or walk independently, Demetri held onto to Sweet Pea at their first meeting, standing and petting her. This was the longest he had ever stood without assistance! His mom, Kristen, told Woman’s Day it was astonishing that an animal’s presence could do so much to motivate her son’s independence.
This is not the first story the Foundation has received about animals assisting those with physical and cognitive challenges. Be on the lookout for an upcoming article in Reaching Out about the many benefits of therapy animals for individuals with CdLS.
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