Can an animal change a child's life?
If you see how Danyel Derzon of Grafton interacts with miniature horses the answer is yes.
Danyel was born in the Ukraine. He was adopted two years ago. Danyel was born with fetal alcohol syndrome.
His new mom, Daylen Derzon, was told he may never communicate. "We were told that he wasn't going to bond with animals. He had gone to a zoo and saw no purpose, of really anything..not even a human being. He didn't see the purpose of us," Daylen Derzon explained.
But a trip to the Aledos Riverside Ranch in Sheboygan County near Random Lake changed that. Danyel took part in Touching Smiles Equine Therapy. The program works with those are physically mentally or emotionally challenged.
The president of Touching Smiles is amazed at Danyel's progress. Sheryl Kress-Griffin says, "I didn't expect to see that huge of a turnaround, from a little boy who doesn't relate to anybody...to somebody who was just so excited and personable...and asking all the right questions..it's really nice..it made it all worthwhile."
The classes are free and run solely on donations.
The secretary of Touching Smiles Laurie Moeckler says volunteering is gratifying. According to Moeckler, "It's a real "feel good" type of a situation knowing we are helping people come out of their shells (and) interact with animals on a level they can't do with people. And just to see the smiles of joy on their faces is reward enough for me."
Griffin goes on to say, "It's such a nice feeling to know that you made them happy. You just feel like you're doing the right thing. It's not for money, that's not a part of it. We're just doing it because it's the right thing to do."
The staff works for no pay, but they say the rewards are rich. The smiles on clients faces like Danyel is payment enough for them.
For more information on Touching Smiles Equine Therapy, and how you can donate, go to the Web site. It's touchingsmilesequinetherapy.org
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