You know what Owen thinks is better than playing outside on a gorgeous fall day? Receiving hippotherapy at Triangle Therapy Services on that gorgeous fall day! We love our Jacob Beachy Fund kids!

  E nd-of-summer visits are especially rewarding, as we see the progress Jacob Beachy Fund's kids have made in the last few months. And what fun to talk with these parents whose love and caring shine through in every conversation! Muscle control isn't easy when cerebral palsy enters the picture, and Miller has had plenty of challenges. But Miller's greatly improving his mobility and gaining more independence. We're glad Jacob's Fund's hippotherapy scholarship helps make that possible.

 To friends wishing to donate to help children receive hippotherapy, we thank you for your generosity.  For checks, our mailing address is: Jacob's Fund 1630 Tipperary Dr. Middletown, Ohio 45042 OR See our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/JacobBeachyFund - and click Donate. Thank you. 

Jonah! Jonah is a Jacob's Fund kid. Like our Jacob, Jonah was born with multiple heart defects, including hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). We are thrilled with his progress, following each step of his journey. Jonah is a special boy with an amazing family - sister Lily, dad Linn, and mom, Amy, who helps other families find the support they need for their special needs children. 40,000 children are born with congenital heart defects each year. Our hearts are with them, not only during February - Heart Month - but every day of the year. Hippotherapy, one of Jonah's favorite activities Jonah and Miles McKenna Farms Therapy Services Did you know that February is #AmericanHeartMonth ? In honor of that, we are spotlighting Jonah! His mom Amy explains, “Jonah is 9 years old and is one of the happiest children you will ever meet! He loves learning and embraces every moment. He was born with Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome (and several other heart defects), a cleft palate, kid

  Last week we saw this sign posted on our school district’s Facebook page.  What a great way to start the school year! As I mused about children’s happiness my mind turned to our visits to Triangle Therapy Services earlier this month, I realized that the common thread in those visits was the beautiful smiles on the children’s faces. Dalton, all smiles Dalton’s smile is memorable. Last fall, his smiles, grins, and giggles, accentuated with his dazzling dimples, lifted our spirits. When we met him again a few days ago, he was just as radiant.   “He’s doing amazing!” his mom, Angie, says. Dalton was born with cerebral palsy and has been in therapy all his life. In addition to physical therapy during his hippotherapy this summer, he’s been in intensive therapy at Cincinnati Children’s since last summer when he underwent surgery. He’s since grown three inches in his legs alone! He’s recently had Botox injections in his legs to relieve the spasticity; he’s just getting used to the rel

Miller enjoying his job We gather outside the barn, leaning on the fence, to watch Miller at hippotherapy, while his brother, Andy, takes on the climbing wall in the playground behind us. Miller’s riding helmet covers his blond hair, and he’s hard at work this evening. While physical, occupational, and speech therapists create exercises that are also games, because children learn and grow through play, the tasks they design increase strength, ability, and coordination, and require concentration and effort. Miller was born with cerebral palsy and severe gastrointestinal problems. He’s undergone an ileostomy and he uses a wheelchair. At eight, he’s been doing therapy for years, and has received hippotherapy for the last two summers.  He’s in physical therapy at Triangle this summer, strengthening his core muscles tonight, including lots of reaching and stretching across Paco, his horse. These exercises improve Miller’s balance, strength, and coordination. It’s quite a workout, as Paco