Sherry : A
Goodby for Jennifer
This letter
was sent by Sherry Davenport, a volunteer who uses our ponies to work
with elementary-aged children with anger aggressive behavior and/or
severe low self esteem.
Our involvement
with Personal Ponies has only just recently begun. For the past 5
years, we have been rescueing miniature horses and trying to figure out
how we could use them to help others. In it's second year now, The
Fun-E Farm, (a fun enhancement farm for kids) has been bringing these
horses together with elementary school children who suffer from anger
aggressive behavior and /or severe low self esteem. Personal Ponies
Ltd. has pointed us in another direction and these children are now
raising ponies to donate to other children. The kids at our farm are
learning to think of others and help them have a better life!
Which brings us
to Jennifer... Jennifer, a 13 year old girl, was diagnosed with cancer.
It was so severe that the family had to take her back and forth to the
hospital every other day. A mutual friend told her family about all of
our our wonderful little ones, kids and horses. The family expressed a
great interest, but said there was no way they could bring Jennifer out
to visit the horses because she could hardly eat on her own, let alone
withstand the drive. In response, the kids who visit our farm lit right
up and said, "We'll go to her!!" They waited patiently (okay, not SO
patiently) for the longed-for visit--hopeful that Jennifer would soon
be well enough. We all wanted Jennifer to be stronger for the visit and
her doctors agreed!
This past June,
Jennifer lost her battle with cancer—and also left behind three
brokenhearted children. When I sat them down to explain that we
wouldn't get the chance to visit her, we all cried (which is quite
something for these "tough" kids) and I was concerned that they would
be hesitatant to take on this kind of project again. To my amazement,
though, they started planning right then how they could do more to help
other children and this time not be too late! They are now not only
visiting kids, but shut-ins and adults at care centers as well.
Jennifer never
had the opportunity to meet our ponies—but her short life helped light
the way for other troubled children. Now these "problem" kids want more
than anything to make life better for others. All this extra
enthusiasum is due to one child, Jennifer, a 13 year old girl with
cancer that they never met!
Thank you
Personal Ponies, for helping us see a brighter future!
Sherry Davenport
The Fun-E Farm
Outer Banks Chapter of PERSONAL PONIES
smjd@interpath.com
