19-year-old Mykyta undergoes hippotherapy in the Regional Landscape Park Feldman Ecopark for the second week. A boy suffers from a strange illness, which is accompanied by hand and leg tremor, and by lack of coordination. Mykyta is under the examination of doctors since he turned 13, but the diagnosis is still open to question. According to preliminary conclusions, the boy suffers from neurodegenerative disease of nervous system. In order to confirm the diagnosis and to form the treatment plan additional researches are needed. However, during 6 years spent in the hospitals Mykyta and his mother have got very tired. When they’ve found out about the Centre of Psychosocial Rehabilitation, they immediately decided to try hippotherapy (equine-assisted therapy). According to the words of mother Natalia, they’ve come here for positive emotions and psychological relief.
“The main result we tried to find is the inexpressible emotions. I am glad to see my son in good mood. The exercises are difficult for him, but he hurries for every lesson,” Natalia tells.
Mykyta has never ridden before, but the wish to ride a horse appeared as soon as he saw Gerda. According to the boy’s words, riding is difficult for him; his legs are aching, but the emotional satisfaction is worth it.
After the week of hippotherapy, Mykyta set himself a new goal – to lose weight. Due to the disease, the boy gained weight and this only aggravates the situation. It turned out that the horse named Gerda not only gives positive emotions, but also motivates to go on a diet.
“I set myself a goal to lose weight. During this week, I’ve already changed my diet a little. I’ve eaten everything before, now I don’t eat chips and croutons, although I want them very much,” Mykyta confessed.
Soon, Mykyta will return to his native village of Novoluhanske (Bakhmut region, Donetsk oblast), where he is going to continue self-improvement. The head of the Centre’s psychological service Tetiana Aliieva has already recommended a diet to the boy and hopes that in a year he will come to Feldman Ecopark with the results.
