Victory Therapy Center

 As a Mom, one of my greatest joys is watching my kids not only succeed at what they love, but be loved well by others. Many of you who have followed my blog for some time have read as I have expressed how our church has gone out of there way to show Alex love and acceptance. Never has that love shone brighter for Maddy than yesterday at Victory Therapy Center.

Victory Therapy Center is such an amazing facility. For the past year and a half Maddy has had the privilege of doing physical therapy and therapeutic riding at Victory. Each week she laughs, she chats and she works hard with a large group of staff and volunteers. 

Yesterday, was Victory's in house Horse Show. Maddy struggled through most of December, January, and  some of February with debilitating anxiety that threated to rob her love of horseback riding. I watched as this amazing group rallied around her week after week. Weekly, the manager of Victory left her office to come sidewalk with Maddy and reassure her. Her Physical Therapist and Riding Coach had countless meetings brainstorming how to help her. There were many nights I received message from one of these two incredible women as they tried to come up with a plan to help Maddy. Her volunteers stood beside her and encouraged her and were there when she was most scared.  I watched as the staff worked behind the scenes to ensure that Maddy would be able to ride the horse she was most comfortable on with a volunteer who leads her each week for the show. 

When Maddy woke up yesterday morning, she immediately was overcome with nerves and all morning told me she was scared and didn't think she could do it. As we stepped out of the car yesterday for the show and prepared for her to ride, I was overwhelmed with the love for my girl as one by one every volunteer and staff member came up and encouraged Maddy. Many of them have witnessed first hand her struggles with anxiety and they each made a point to tell her they believed in her and they knew she would be amazing. I watched in wonder as Maddy's fear subsided and she started to believe in herself as much as these incredible humans believe in her. By the time she mounted Hunter she was actually smiling and told me she was going to "rock it" and rock it she did. I watched her ride with a confidence I didn't know was possible. 

What I do know is she never could have accomplished it alone. She rode with an army of love standing behind her and cheering her on every step of the way and I am eternally grateful.

Ali

PS- She also had Mimi, PopPop, Mommy, Daddy and Alex there to cheer her on too!