What is Hippotherapy

Last year, our friends organized an amazing event called Crest on Cruisers to help pay for Charlie’s hippotherapy. This year, we’re paying it forward by raising money for a wonderful little girl named Halle. So to help people understand what hippotherapy is, I put together this little video showing Charlie’s lessons and the progress he's made. Enjoy!


What is Hippotherapy? from Joe Myers on Vimeo.

Most Amazing Weekend

On Saturday, Charlie had another absolutely amazing hippotherapy session. Tiffany (therapist), Tulip (horse), Allie (handler), Jim, and Don (volunteers) make the most incredible team. Charlie played the puzzle games and gave high-fives all around as they worked on his flexibility and strength.



See all the photos from the session on Flickr

Then we were off to the playground with Pow-Pow where Charlie navigated the slides and bridges without dropping to his knees to crawl. Given all his hard work that morning, I thought he would be content to play around the house after his nap. But he completely floored Joe and I by walking, that's right everyone, around the house without his walker. He must have done 12 laps before he turned his attention to a game of basketball. Here is a 40 second video of one lap.

Hippotherapy Update

Charlie just finished his first round of hippotherapy session before the holidays at The National Ability Center.  As you may know from the previous post, the first two sessions presented a bit of a challenge for Charlie who was resistant to the equipment and unhappy to be separated from Joe.

Thankfully, we stuck it out to the third session which was truly the turning point. Charlie rode a different horse, Tulip, this time. She is a petite chestnut horse with the same amazing disposition as Captain Brownie, and all the horses at the facility from my observation. I am not certain what turned it around for Charlie but he spent the hour giggling and playing games with the therapists.

The following two sessions were equally as enjoyable for everyone. Charlie laughed and sang as he rode backwards, sideways and even stood on Tulip while she patiently walked and trotted around the arena. Joe and I still hid in the alcove with tears in our eyes at time but now they were tears of joy. 

I can not sing the praises of the therapists and handlers enough. They have unending patience and abounding passion for their work making it easy to leave Charlie in their care. Charlie will continue this therapy in the Spring and I am optimistic that he will pick up right where he left off.

Here is Charlie with Allie thanking Tulip for an excellent session.

At the end of each session Charlie feeds Tulip a well-deserved treat. I noticed that Charlie has gained a new appreciation for carrots and even ate some the other night while we were cooking together.

Hippotherapy - Getting Started

Charlie had his first two hippotherappy sessions at Park City's National Ability Center. As expected it was a bit of a challenge with so many new things at once. He didn't like the required helmet, so he fixated on that right away. But he LOVES his horse, Captain Brownie. Captain Brownie is small and fuzzy and amazingly patient. He moves slowly and reliably on verbal commands and he's extremely interested in Charlie.

His sessions are in an inside riding ring which has many adaptive considerations, including a ramp to a loading dock, so Charlie can walk up to Captain Brownie on his own. That ramp also leads to a sliding, mechanical harness which allows the staff to load disabled adults onto their horses. Charlie got to watch that procedure and thought it was pretty cool.

Charlie's first two sessions have been tough because of the equipment, and because his therapy requires the hands-on attendance of professional therapists with whom he's still becoming acquainted. So Sarah and I have to watch from outside the ring. But that's ok, because the staff members at the NAC are patient and kind, and they're very sweet to Charlie. So he'll come around.

We're excited for Charlie's next session this weekend, and Charlie gets excited when we mention Captain Brownie. We're so grateful for all the generous help from our friends and families. Thank you to all those who participated or donated to Crest on Cruisers. We're so lucky.

Here are the pictures we've managed to snap so far.

More Pictures »

Great Strides! Charlie's first steps

Charlie took his first independent steps this weekend, just after his second birthday. It was a quiet evening at home and we were horsing around. I propped him up against the couch and we did some lunging. I backed up an inch or two at a time and started patting his feet. Before I knew it he was taking a step, then two, three, four! I cannot express how overwhelmed I am with joy.

I want to celebrate this moment by sharing some highlights from the last year as Charlie started by struggling just to sit up independently. Then after months of hard work, he learned to crawl. Now, having walked with assistance for almost a year Charlie has realized that there’s nothing in this world that can hold him back.

Once more, we’d like to extend our thanks to all the therapists, doctors and specialists who have helped Charlie reach to this great height. And thanks also to friends and family for your support and encouragement.

Enjoy!

Charlie has Cerebral Palsy. But it by no means has him. This is his courageous effort leading up to his first independent steps. We are so proud of Charlie and can't wait to see what he does next.

Crest on Cruisers Recap

Thank you all.

We cannot express how grateful we are for everyone's generosity and thoughtfulness in putting together Crest on Cruisers. The event was fun and silly and it raised about $3,000 for Charlie's Hippotherapy. We have been overwhelmed with the support of this amazing community and cannot thank you all enough. We received donations from friends and family, and even some strangers. We made new friends and had a wonderful time. Charlie doesn't realize (yet) what an amazing community surrounds him and awaits his every heroic step. We can't wait to post updates from his hippotherapy sessions. But in the mean time, enjoy these pictures from the event.

For those who were not able to attend, we appreciate your thoughts and generous support. We look forward to paying it forward next year in support of other families. We are truly amazed by the support we have received.

A special thank you goes to Chris Petty for conceiving of and organizing the event. Also to Stacey Zavadil for creating the website promoting the event. We love you guys.

Crest On Cruisers

Charlie’s Diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy was not a surprise to us. But for our friends and family, it has struck a nerve. Several of our friends in Park City have decided to organize a unique fundraising bike ride to help pay for Charlie to attend private hippotherapy sessions at Park City’s National Ability Center. Needless to say, this has touched us deeply and we’re so appreciative.

The bike ride is called Crest on Cruisers and it’s quite silly actually. On September 11th, we’ll be riding beach cruisers from the top of Guardsman’s Pass (9,150' elevation) to the Wasatch Crest Trail along the top of Deer Valley Resort. The ride, although short, quickly gains 700+ feet of elevation over a steep dualtrack, culminating in the loose, rocky stretch to the top known as “Puke Hill”. An arduous task even for seasoned mountain bikers, this ride is intended to be impossible on comfort bikes. But the effort will be fun to watch and all attempts will be met with applause and gratitude.

Most importantly, we hope to make this ride an anual event, benefitting a different deserving party each year. When I was informed that we were to be this year’s beneficiaries, I decided to focus on making this a success for years to come in order to pay it forward.

To date (8.22) this amazing effort has raised $1840 online and we could not be more grateful for everyone’s kindness and consideration. Special thanks to Chris Petty, Stacey Zavadil, Joe Johnson, Carolyn Wawra and all those who have helped organize this amazing event. And thanks also to all those who have donated and registered for the event. We are truly humbled by your generosity.

“I Go”

Three mornings a week I drop Charlie off at Daycare. I typically carry him in while all the other kids his age walk in independently, mostly because I am late for work. Joe, my mom and I are all reading various books about parenting children with CP and one thing to note was that we need to adapt to create a sense of independence for Charlie. So today I brought his walker to school with us and placed it next to the car. He grabbed right on and charged towards the curb. With just a little help over the curb he was off and charging up the ramp to the doors. A very kind woman patiently held the door for him and he smiled as he passed her but didn't slow down as he headed down the hall. Without prompting he took the left to the door for his section of daycare. The left front wheel of the walker hit the corner and he just inched it around with such ease I almost started crying.

I learned something today. My little boy can be an independent toddler and get places on his own, with the walker of course, and I need to let him be that big boy. Even now, hours later, it brings a smile to my face and tears to my eyes to remember what an amazing job his did this morning. I know I am in for a constant stream of moments like this and I look forward to them. I also know there will be many more obstacles and struggles ahead. But just like you carry the weightless sensation of skiing a fresh line with you over the seemingly endless days of chopped up lines in between the storms; I am going to carry these feelings of pride and love with me through whatever comes next until he amazes me yet again.

Shapes and Colors

Joe and I had such a wonderful evening. When I arrived home Charlie and Joe were heading our for a walk. Charlie started on his usual path connecting all the manholes in the neighborhood. It makes me so nervous because of the way everyone drives around here. M&M (aka Mrs Myers) had said it appeared that Charlie was rounding the bases. This gave me an idea to cut shapes in some neon printer paper that has been sitting in the spare bedroom closet for years without purpose. It was an amazing success. Charlie walked along the sidewalks of our neighborhood stomping the different shapes. As a working mom I often feel like I am just an observer in Charlie's therapy, the one who schedules the appointments and pays the bill. Tonight I feel amazing knowing that I was able to create a fun environment for my little boy to work through his disability. It is the little moments that mean so much.

Cerebral Palsy, Our New Challenge

If you've been keeping up with Charlie's progress, you may know that he's fallen behind on physical milestones. Typically, a 20-month old child is running around and talking with some proficiency. Charlie has required some extra help so far, and his recent MRI confirmed that he has a mild case of Cerebral Palsy.

What are we dealing with here?

Cerebral Palsy is a sort of catchall phrase for a spectrum of neurological and neuromuscular conditions. What does that mean? Well, let's start at the beginning. Charlie was born prematurely at 31 weeks via emergency c-section. He suffered a small right side brain bleed, causing some damage to the white matter of his brain, the connective tissue between nerves. As a result he has developed hypertonia (increased muscle tone) in his back, legs, ankles and feet. This causes his back to arch and allows him much less flexibility. It also manifests as an asymmetrical pronation in his feet. He stands up on his toes, while his left foot lies unnaturally and shows less stability and control than his right.

Good news

The good news is that Charlie's case is considered very mild by all accounts. In the limited time we've had to absorb this news, we've seen kids who face much greater challenges than our little guy will. We actually consider ourselves quite lucky in that sense.

It's also important to note that his disability is NOT progressive, which means it will not get worse. In fact, we've been assured by his many specialists that he will learn to work with and around this disability. He may never be an olympic sprinter, but he could potentially still enjoy skiing or biking if he wants to. His fine motor skills do not appear to be as affected as his gross motor skills. And while he still has to complete a speech therapy screening, Charlie does seem to be intelligent, creative, sweet, and very charming.

More good news

Charlie is getting more outside help than I ever realized was available. Sometimes it seems like his life is rigidly scheduled between doctors, specialists, therapists, daycare, swim lessons, etc. But what it means is that there are many people who care about his wellbeing and are invested in his progress. Currently, he sees a physical therapist, an occupational therapist, a speech therapist, a pediatrician, a neurologist, an orthopedist, an orthotist, a chiropractor, an ENT, and has also been treated for 3 cases of Croup, a couple ear infections, and god knows what else. And did I mention he spent his first month of life in the NICU at Saint Marks?

Charlie has recently had a pair of plastic braces custom made for his feet and ankles to correct his pronation and tiptoed stance. They're lightweight and relatively unobtrusive. We're so lucky to live in an era of advanced technology and specialized research. After only a month in his braces, Charlie has shown significant improvements in his stance and stability.

Recently Charlie was accepted by Shriner's Children's Hospital, which is a wonderful place with a wealth of resources for kids with neurological disorders. And since Shriner's operates largely with the benefit of philanthropic donations, they address the proper care BEFORE they address payment. This has taken a huge burden off of our shoulders and we're so grateful for their help. I encourage you to learn more about Shriner's and consider making a donation if you're ever able.

Another treatment we're considering is called hippotherapy, where children with neuromuscular difficulty ride horses to encourage stability, core strength, balance, posture, muscle tone, and emotional development. We're fortunate to live near Park City's National Ability Center, which offers this service. And while it's not covered by insurance, we're happily saving up to string together a series of visits.

How are we doing, you ask?

Remarkably, Charlie has handled all of this with grace and resilience. He's a happy little boy and he inspires us to work even harder to keep that smile on his face. Often when I feel tired or inadequate, I'm able to draw strength from him. For example, when suffering through a recent workout I thought: "Sure I could run 2 miles instead of 3, but what would Charlie say?" I've learned that giving up on myself means giving up on him. And that's not something I could ever do.

We've been told it's natural to feel anger or a sense of loss when your child is diagnosed with a disability. And I'll admit we've been through the ringer, feeling frustration and exhaustion. But grief would be an exercise in self-indulgence we can't afford. Charlie is such a gift, we're just grateful to have him. He enriches our lives every day.

It's also important to note that Charlie doesn't need our sympathy. What he needs is toughness. He will have to be tough to live the life he deserves: one of possibility and hope; and without excuses or self-pity. So for that, we'll have to learn to be tough.

We'd like to thank our families for their support. Sarah's parents have been amazing. They help out with daytime care, offering at least a day a week so we can get work done and enjoy an occasional day alone. And my family has also shown great support from New Hampshire, checking in and offering words of encouragement. Charlie is surrounded by love and for that, he's the luckiest guy I know.

My Big Little Man

I can not believe that one year ago (give or take a day) I was woken up by a strange feeling. Little did I know in those wee hours of the morning that my life was about to change so drastically. You have proven to be the most amazing life lesson. I no longer expect things to go as planned. Life is truly about the journey. I have an amazing family who support me and make me a better person/wife/mother/daughter.

Happy Birthday My Little Man. You are my world. And Daddy and I wish you a life filled with joy and kindness.

Charlie Update

Charlie is on the brink of his 8 month birthday. He has been sleeping through the night for almost a month now and he even is so kind as to sleep in on some weekends. This weekend he cut his first tooth. It was a big surprise to Joe and I since he has not been particularly fussy lately. He is eating solid foods 2-3 times a day. I am making all of his foods which gives me such a sense of pride. As a working parent I find joy in the little things I can do for him. His favorite food right now is bananas; he smacks his lips when he eats them. He even likes to pretend to feed himself which is just a fancy way of spreading banana all over his seat and kitchen.

Now that he is close to the 18 lbs mark we have been taking him hiking in the hiking backpack. It is so much fun to get outside and experience with world with him. It really seems to like the outdoors and is happy just to sit back and take it all in. Overall, he is such a happy baby; Joe and I are so lucky. I can just sit and stare at him for hours. Even after he has fallen asleep I hold him and take it all in. I am so grateful that he is healthy and happy. He has changed my life.

Bike MS: Harmons Best Dam Bike Ride 2010!

Joe and I just registered for a two-day 150 mile bike ride to benefit MS. I am so excited to finally commit to this ride and also to have Joe as a team mate. I have wanted to participate in the ride on The Canyons Team for the past 3 years but couldn't make myself commit mostly because I hate fundraising, it always feels like I am asking people to give ME money.

This year turned out the be The Year for numerous reasons. First and foremost Anastasia's shocking diagnosis this fall at the age of 27. Second, needing to get motivated to get in shape. The ride is in late June here in Utah so Joe and I have plenty of time to get our butts into shape. My mom has graciously agreed to watch Charlie while Joe and I punish ourselves by riding 75 miles each day.

Hanging with the grandparents.

We are fast approaching Charlie's four-month birthday. He is growing so fast. Last week he got to spend some quality time with my dad, grandpa and my mom, Umi.

Taking a nap with Grandpa

Umi and the Bandit

Roxie being a good sport.

Cross-Country Skiing

Yesterday Joe, Charlie, the dogs and I went cross-country skiing at Round Valley, a network of groomed trails in Park City. It was the first time we had taken the Chariot out with the ski attachment. Joe and I took turns pulling Charlie along. We went for about 2.5 hours and didn't hear a peep from the little man except the faint sound of snoring. He slept through the whole adventure and ride home.

A Very Charlie Christmas to All

Well Charlie finally turned ZERO the other day. After two months out in the world, Charlie’s due date came and went so he has shed his “preemie” label. He is now over two months old although by conventional standards, the clock starts now. So his “adjusted age” is now zero.

Having him home has been wonderful, albeit challenging. Sarah has already begun transitioning back to work part time and we’ve both begun feigning a sense of normalcy. We’ve been able to go skiing a couple times and Sarah’s even hitting the gym regularly.

Charlie is starting to become more responsive and despite the occasional meltdown, is still pretty agreeable. He loves tummy time and really keeps us honest when it comes to his feeding schedule, which is still every 3 hours. At his last “Charliatrician” appointment two weeks ago, he weighed in at 7 pounds 12 ounces. He’s been seeing his “Charliepractor” each week as well for adjustments, reflux treatment and cranial massage and shaping. As we speak, he’s quietly napping in his living room pack’n play. So it’s nice of him to respect my work schedule.

So while we have so much to be grateful for this Christmas, we’d like to extend our best wishes to you and your family. We hope your holidays are happy, healthy and full of love. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Solstice, Happy New Year, etc.


Charlie’s Holiday Wish to you.


LET ME TELL YA SOMETHING!!!... MERRY CHRISTMAS.


OK enough already.


Wow this is a big world.


Out for a walk.


Tummy time with Mommy.

Charlie’s Rookie Card

Well, we finally put out a birth announcement of sorts. Check out Charlie’s Rookie Card!


(click to view larger)

Charlie-Man-Tastic

After about 10 days at home with Charlie, we're settling into a routine. Sort of. Charlie eats every three hours which doesn't leave room for much else. Once we've paced him, burped him, changed him, calmed him down, convinced him to sleep and successfully put him down...we're already 5 minutes late for his next feeding.

But we're still having a good time. The dogs are still enamored with him and hang on his every move. He's had a little bit of a sniffle but I think that's starting to go away. And he gets a little bit of heartburn but he's taking Prevacid for that. He's very sweet and as you can see by the pictures below, he really likes to show off his sexy side.


Charlie's lost in thought, a pensive preemie.


Eat your heart out, ladies....Yeah, you wish.


Step right up. Here's a free ticket to the GUN SHOW!!


No more pictures please. I'm spent.

Our First Thanksgiving

Yesterday, we celebrated Charlie's first Thanksgiving. My parents came to the house and cooked an amazing dinner for all of us. We all took a walk around the block while the turkey was cooking, this was Charlie's first walk outside. While pushing him all bundled up around the block I began to daydream of all the fun outings we have planned; visiting Yellowstone and the Scanlons, meeting his Great Uncle Rod in the San Rafael Swell, eating handfuls of sand and tide pooling in Kennebunk, visiting Portsmouth with his cousins Jim and Brody and Nichole or simply walking on the back roads and talking to the cows behind our house. I look forward to experiencing the world with Joe and our son.

The first few days at home were very stressful, I was so afraid that Charlie would suddenly stop breathing. Since then my confidence as a parent has increased tenfold and I feel worthy of being this little man's mother. Joe and I are tackling the 3 hour feeding schedule while I finish out my maternity leave and Joe graciously works from home. I cannot imagine how anyone survives being a parent alone. I am extremely lucky to have a supportive husband to tackle the stressful first few weeks.

Home. Safe. Finally. First couple days alone.

Charlie-Man (AKA King Charlemagne) is finally home, discovering new challenges and new adventures. We brought Charlie home on Wednesday night and introduced him to his new world. He breathed fresh air for the first time; he rode in a car; he saw his house; he met his dogs... all for the first time. Then, as if on queue, the daunting reality set in that we’re alone with this little man. No monitors. No nurses. No safety net at all. That first night was intense. But we made it through, like all new parents do.

As expected, the dogs immediately fell in love with him. He’s like a human squeaky toy. Roxie has been predictably standoffish. She’s curious, but she’s gonna wait for him to approach her like everyone else. we’re not sure if she realizes how long that might take. Blü on the other hand is OBSESSED with him. She’s done nothing but follow Charlie around since the moment we came home, desperately hoping to catch a whiff, a touch or a lick of him. She holds a stalker-like vigil outside his bassinet and climbs the walls when he cries. When we take Charlie across the hall to feed and change him, Blü dances around outside the baby-gate we placed in the doorway. But I think it’s clear they will soon be best friends.

Sarah and I are adjusting to parental life. Coping with the constant worry and the lack of sleep is inherently taxing. Charlie eats every 3 hours (on the dot) and has no tolerance for excuses. But most of the time, he’ll accept a little cuddling, or story time, or tummy time afterwords. And these quiet moments are worth a lifetime of sleepless nights.

I’ve joked about my wife being in love with “another man”. The truth of the matter is that we both are. He’s quite an incredible little guy. He’s fairly easy to please and he adapts well. He tries not to cry too much and he graciously accepts our faults. We can’t wait to see what comes next.


Love at first site... Blü hasn’t left Charlie’s side since he came home.


Charlie’s first bath at home.


Blü wants to help so desperately.


Story time! Charlie loves the sound of Mommy’s voice.


Tummy Time for Charlie.


Shhh... Just enjoy the quiet, little man.


Milk-Drunk.


Squishy face = Squishy pants.


WOAH, that was a big poop.


Ready for bed in a big way.