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~ Bill’s Story
According to his adopted
mother Denette, “Wild” Bill is an amazing 32-year old with a contagious
smile. He’s been a cowboy at heart ever since he fell in love with “Marvel
the Mustang” from Mattel toys.
But there was a time when
Denette feared that Bill would not even live yet alone walk or ride a horse.
Bill was born a perfectly
healthy baby boy. When he came into Denette’s home four months later as a
foster child, he was not expected to live. Abuse had taken its toll on the
baby who weighed a mere six pounds. With loving care, Denette nursed Bill
back to life, but she could not totally erase the Cerebral Palsy which
resulted from his previous ill-treatment.
Today, Bill is a California
transplant who loves his new home in Colorado Springs. Even though he was
sad to leave his eight-year job at Disneyland, Bill now works at Safeway and
says he will never leave Colorado. One thing that remains the same is that
he is loved by co-workers and customers alike.
One of the highlights of
Bill’s week is riding at Pikes Peak Therapeutic Riding Center. In fact, he
has received so much from riding that he gives back by volunteering at PPTRC
after his hippotherapy sessions are done.
What hippotherapy (therapy
that uses the movement of the horse) has done for Bill is improved his
balance and increased his endurance making it easier for him to walk and
work longer. It has also helped fulfill a life-long dream.
In
Bill’s own words, “They call Disneyland the happiest place on earth,
but I think the happiest place on earth is Pikes Peak Therapeutic Riding
Center. Thank you.” |
Pikes Peak Therapeutic Riding Center
