Mitchell at the 2008 Annual Meeting
“When our son was born, he was very ill, and at just four weeks old, he had both kidneys removed. Fortunately, I was able to donate mine, but I knew then that Mitchell would never have a normal childhood.” These gripping words from Mitchell’s mother, Lezah Yeoh, opened “Mitchell’s Story,” the grand-prize-winning film at the November 21 Soul Friends Petflix film festival at Showcase Cinemas in North Haven.
Mitchell was born with a rare genetic kidney disease which developed in utero. His continuing medical issues include liver fibrosis, portal hypertension, esophageal varices and an enlarged spleen. He is a candidate for future kidney and liver transplantation, among other medical procedures. In addition, when Mitchell was five years old, he was diagnosed with high-functioning Aspergers’ autism. His parents note that it is this condition that has had the largest impact on Mitchell’s life.
For the past four years, Mitchell has been participating in therapeutic horseback riding lessons at Corgi Hollow, the Newtown chapter of Pegasus Therapeutic Riding. His instructor, Betsy Stein Medinger, and Betsy’s daughter, Jill, created “Mitchell’s Story” to document how working with therapy horses has changed Mitchell’s life.
“Riding has not only developed Mitchell’s physical strength and muscle coordination while improving his riding skills, “states his father, Ian, “it has also sparked an immense joy for working with horses.”
Lezah adds, “When Mitchell began riding for Pegasus, we did not know what to expect. Initially, we questioned how Mitchell, who could not walk a straight line, could ride a large horse. My husband and I were astounded to see Mitchell, with his fragile body, sit majestically on a horse. It was miraculous.”
The video, which is just under six minutes long, was spotted online by Soul Friends executive director Kate Nicoll, who was very moved by the story and suggested Betsy and Jill submit it for judging at the film festival. Mitchell and Jill jointly accepted the award at the festival while Mitchell’s family, Pegasus physical therapist/instructor Lois Brockmann, and Betsy proudly cheered them on. Mitchell plans to add his Petflix certificate to his growing collection of honors, which include music awards for piano and violin, academic honor roll awards, and his 2008 Child Equestrian of the Year award from NARHA (formerly the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association).
An accredited NARHA Premier Center since 1997, Pegasus has six chapters in Connecticut and New York. Pegasus riders are challenged by a wide range of disabilities, including multiple sclerosis, autism, visual impairment, cerebral palsy and Down syndrome. “Mitchell’s Story” and further information about Pegasus riding programs, how to become a volunteer, and how to make a contribution to help fund the Pegasus mission are available at pegasustr.org.
