Tanner, now seven years old, has been a client at The Shea Center for three years. Born four weeks prematurely, Tanner’s mother, Courtney, knew during her pregnancy that something wasn’t right. Tanner was later diagnosed with cerebral palsy and hypotonia, which caused weakness in his right side. Due to brain damage, he missed developmental milestones. At nine months, he couldn’t sit up and struggled with swallowing. As he grew, he had difficulty walking, frequently tumbled, and was notably weak and floppy. Over the years, Tanner has participated in various therapies, including occupational, physical, swallowing, and eye-patch therapies.

At The Shea Center, Tanner’s physical therapy incorporates hippotherapy, which has been important in his progress. Riding a horse strengthens his core muscles, while the horse’s rhythmic gait stimulates his brain and helps retrain it. The calming environment of riding also boosts Tanner’s self-confidence. He takes pride in his accomplishments, such as learning to control the horse’s reins, and has become more socially interactive. His work on horseback and in the inclusive fitness center has improved his weight balance and overall strength.

Last year, Tanner underwent surgery to have a plate placed in his hip, which required a six-month break from The Shea Center. Since returning, his progress has been remarkable. His physical therapist, Caitlin Wands, comments, “Since returning to physical therapy after his surgery, Tanner has made tremendous progress. We can use the movement of our horse Easy to help with stretching and balance activities. Tanner loves playing basketball and other sports, and he can work on even weight bearing while standing on Easy to throw baskets and improve his coordination and balance while navigating obstacles. All of these activities allow him to improve his mobility and participation.”

At the start of first grade, Tanner relied on a reverse walker, but he quickly advanced and is no longer in adaptive PE. Now, he runs and plays on the playground with his friends, shoots hoops, plays basketball, participates in Little League, and swims with his neighborhood swim team. Tanner has grown into a happy, active little boy.

Courtney shared how much the family enjoys their time at The Shea Center’s Annual BBQ and Family Faire. “The whole family, including Tanner’s two older sisters, loves coming. It’s a great family bonding time,” she said.