“Goodbye, Auggie”.  Those are Hudson D.’s new words.  Hudson is five years old and has been a Shea Center client for two years.  Diagnosed with cerebral palsy, Hudson is visually impaired and has delayed speech.  He attends transitional kindergarten, speaks about 50 words, and has started to put together two-word phrases.  He also likes to sing with Randi Shannahan, his physical therapist.

Hudson’s mother, Meghan, comments, “Since beginning physical therapy (hippotherapy), Hudson is more aware of his surroundings, where he is in space, and his depth perception is improving.  As Hudson becomes stronger, he is more in control and starting to sit independently on the horse.  He doesn’t feel the need to have someone right next to him all the time.” ​​​​

Meghan says Hudson enjoys riding so much that an extra day of speech therapy has been added to his Shea Center schedule.  Even when Hudson is really tired from a long day of school and other therapies, he is always excited to go to Shea and leaves happier than when he arrived.