Hippotherapie

Hippos are my favorite animal. My little Ellie back in the States drew me a picture of one which hung in my room and was one of the few drawings I brought with me to Germany; she also always remembers to take pictures of the hippos at the zoo when she visits so she can show them to me. One Christmas season, I sang "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" too many times and my parents decided to inundate me with Christmas hippos (perhaps so I'd never sing the song again...). I honestly can't tell you where my delight with hippos came from, but I'm even more delighted with words and their origins. 

The word hippopotamus comes from the Greek for river horse. Hippos means horse. English uses the term hippotherapy to refer to special therapy with a horse. It was actually brought to English speaking countries from where it was originally developed as hippotherapie in German speaking countries.

My current physical therapist does hippotherapie once a week, and she'd asked me a while ago if I'd be interested. Before I could go, we had to work to strengthen my core and balance which I've been doing the past few months. This last Friday, the therapists told me I could come watch a session and decide if I wanted to try it next week.

I showed up prepared to watch another patient ride a horse, but when I got out of the car, my therapist (in German) asked me if I was ready to ride. "Heute?" I asked, unprepared for the opportunity to ride that day. "Ja," she confirmed. I smiled and nodded my agreement. Frau Neubert got on the horse and demonstrated what she wanted me to do before letting me on. With a little help, I managed to settle myself in the saddle, and Frau Neubert kept her hand on my leg, moving muscles and calming leg spasms, as another woman led Jana, the patient horse, around an indoor arena. 

For at least the first three rounds, I could not stop grinning. I was so delighted that I was able to hold myself on the horse with my limited leg muscle strength and function. I was overjoyed that I had the core strength to hold myself upright and balanced in the saddle. I was ecstatic that I felt safe in the dynamic environment and was able to get a new and necessary workout for my core, hips, and thighs. After several rounds, I certainly felt the strain, but I was still so happy to be on the horse and working hard. When I finally dismounted, Frau Neubert told me that I could come back every Friday and keep working with the horse. I can't wait to see what major improvements come with this new type of therapy. 

I'll never stop asking for more.

I've already received more healing than the doctors ever anticipated, and I give God all the credit. I'm a walking miracle right now, but I want to give him more praise as he continues to heal me. I want to wiggle my toes in the sand again someday; I want to hear the satisfying smack of flip-flops on my feet in the summer; I want to feel the cold in my feet after a winter walk and stamp the snow off without the fear of falling over. I want it all. I want it all, and I believe my heavenly Father delights in giving good gifts.