Elsie

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"Our daughter, Elsie - age 4, started riding Mouse, a silver dapple pony, at Eagle Mount in September of 2008.  Over two 6 week hippotherapy sessions, we saw changes in her that we'd been hoping for for quite some time.  She has low muscle tone and global apraxia which is a neurological condition.  The pathways from her brain to all of her muscles was/is scrambled making it difficult for her to do almost everything.  Our biggest concern for her has been her ability to communicate.  She screamed for 3 years because this was the only way she knew how to get her needs met.  Along with all of her other therapies, riding Mouse has increased not only her strength but her ability to communicate and process information faster as well.  The therapies rebuild the pathways from her brain to her muscles.  She is now talking in 3-5 word sentences, her spontaneous vocabulary has increased exponentially, she gets her needs met quite readily and she rarely screams! This is such a treat!  We take for granted how easy it is for kids to speak, learn sign language, etc. and it isn't until you are faced with a situation like this that small developmental milestones grow into amazing miracles!  We are very thankful for this therapy and what it has done for her.  She loves that horse and talks about it daily!  Nothing is more exciting than seeing him - squealing for joy is often her response along with lots of jumping and "whoohoos".  Thank you for what you do to make this progress possible for our precious girl."

Montana School for the Deaf & Blind (MSDB)

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Dear Heather,

On behalf of the students and staff of MSDB I want to thank you and all the Eagle mount volunteers who helped to make our PE ski days at Showdown both possible and such a great success.  Charmaine and Bob did a terrific job of organizing the other volunteers and seeing that all of the kids had the support needed to get them out on the hill and both learning to ski and enjoying the experience.  Our sit-ski kids go lots of rides and our stand-up kids all progressed to the point they rode the chairlift!

Without the Eagle Mount program, your efforts, and the skill, talent and generosity of the program volunteers, our deaf and blind students with additional challenges would not have been able to participate with the other students in this tremendous recreational opportunity.  Thank you again for all you've done for our students." 

Sincerely,
Steve Gettel
Superintendent

George

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"One thing I can say about Eagle Mount is 'awesome'. My name is George Young; nine years ago I was in a motor vehicle accident that left me paralyzed below the waist. I was fortunate enough to know people that worked with Eagle Mount before my accident so I was excited to get back on the slopes. As soon as the doctor gave me the 'ok' to go skiing with Eagle Mount I was off, or so I thought I was, you see I was a very avid skier before my accident so I figured I would be this great mono skier, I was a little mistaken. After a few long days I did figure out how to get that device down the mountain without hurting anyone, what an accomplishment and a great confidence builder. I became a very avid skier throughout the following years and even acquired my own ski. The great story behind Eagle Mount helping me ski again showed me that with a little help many things I thought I would never do again became obstacles that I jumped into and found ways to persevere. I now have even started building off road wheelchairs to get people back into the outdoors. I owe Eagle Mount a huge thank you for all the times their volunteers had to pick me up after a fall or a missed lift loading attempt (sorry lift operators), speaking of volunteers my hat is off to all of you. If everyone had the heart you people have the world of the disabled would be much more abled."

Audrey

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Dear Val,

I'm writing to tell you how much volunteering at Eagle Mount has meant to me.  I'm a Hospice nurse and spend my days working with the terminally ill and their families.  It can take a large emotional toll.  Most of the time I gather myself up to continue my daily journey with these very special people and do the best I can to give them the love, support and compassion they so desperately need.  My job means the world to me and I ask God always to help me be the kind of nurse He wants me to be.  That being said, I was recently asked how do it I do it... that job that means so much to me and hopefully others?  Of course my faith, special co-workers and friends but I often found my Giving Bucket would get emptied or nearly empty.  I needed something more to help me keep my bucket full.  I searched an done day a friend mentioned the equestrian program at Eagle Mount.  I have a deep love and respect for horses and decided to place an application.  I was accepted and that began quite a journey for me. 

I love children and wanted to help them but found my involvement with them would take even more for my bucket.  So I requested to be released from the required class involvement and just be allowed to focus on the horses.  This was granted and I was truly blessed.

I'm on the schooling/exercise team and help with feeding.  The time I spend with those beautiful majestic animal fills my bucket!  I receive joy beyond measure caring for them.  Giving them food, watching them eat, brushing them out, picking their feet, cleaning up after them and occasionally riding, rubbing them , smelling them, working them, walking in their midst and just simply being with them is wonderful!  On occasion I'm followed around like I have an adoring crowd.  Sometimes I get a soft nose in my face with warm breath fogging my glasses and leaving a few streaks.  Trudgin' through the dust, dirt, mud, snow and muck just adds to the fun of being with them.  That's where they live and I have been invited into their home.  I watch them do their antics and see how their personalities demonstrate themselves.  At times, when I have had a particularly difficult day I come out to js to get close and hug them, it makes me feel better.  They bring me laughter, I feel sad when they hurt and don't feel good and I have cried when one oft hem has to leave this worldly home because they ar tired and can no longer go on with out suffering.  They are one of my most fulfilling joys.  They fill my bucket.

So... How do I do my real job?  I get comfort, peace, joy and encouragement from my volunteering with you and Jenny and and the others.  I help provide trained, cared for horses for those beautiful children.  My bucket often overflows so I can keep giving to others.  THAT'S HOW I DO IT!

Thank you for allowing me to be a small part of your awesome program.  God bless you all.

Sincerely,  Audrey Sabol

Craig

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My family and I were on our way home following another truly wonderful ski trip to the Showdown Ski Area located  SE of Great Falls, Montana recently and thought that it would be nice if we could in some small way repay some of the kindness and good fortune we had just experienced. This had been another in a long line of excellent ski trips (12 years and counting) and we wondered if anyone else knew of this amazing opportunity. I know that perhaps this may sound a little over the top but please allow me to explain. My wife and another family member were skiing at Showdown Ski Area 13 years ago when they came across members of the Eagle Mount program on the hill assisting disabled skiers. My wife stopped one of the volunteers and asked about the program and if it was available to any handicapped person. Her motives were personal because we have a son with Cerebral Palsy and thought that skiing would be an excellent activity for him to attempt. Well, I think the fact that this discussion was 13 years ago and I am writing this letter following my son’s 12^th annual trip will attest to the value and success of the idea. I cannot begin to tell you how much we appreciate the work and dedication that the Eagle Mount program and their amazing and dedicated volunteers have shown us over the 12 year span.  Every year we receive either an e-mail or phone call to see when we are coming down to participate in the ski program. At first this was a surprise to us since we are Canadian and had been unsure how to initiate the process, but the same process follows each and every year and genuinely makes you feel good to know that they are eager to help and care enough to call. Once we have made arrangements they then meet us at the hill and not only ski with my son, but also make a determined effort to teach him the skills that will eventually lead to his skiing independently.  As a matter of fact the Eagle Mount group staged a ski race each year as a part of their fund raising activities, and a number of years ago they invited my son Craig to come down and participate as the “international leg” of their team. This was an honor he was quick to accept because he truly feels welcome and a part of the group. A second, but certainly not minor, part of this story is the “family” that operates Showdown ski Area. They provide Eagle mount with the opportunity and use of their facility and are extremely genial and helpful. They always have a smile and are quick with an encouraging word or bit of advice to help with the skiing. Similarly, the staff in the lodge and equipment rental area remembers our faces and names and greets us as one of the family even though they only see us once a year.

In closing I can’t tell you how much we have enjoyed the program that Eagle Mount offers and the friendliness the people at Showdown have shown over the years and continue to show today.

Yours truly,

Wade, Kathy and Craig Gleisner