Dolphin Therapy report from family Schröder

Dear Dolphin Therapy Team,

Janik was in Antalya for therapy from 5.6. – 19.6.2010 with his grandparents and was treated by Splash the dolphin and the therapists Fleur, Crissy, Anke, Beata and more whose names escape me.

We, the grandparents, only have Janik during the holidays and when he is ill and has to visit the lung specialist. So we only notice the progress he has made during a fifth of the last half year.

Janik is a lot more confident, doesn’t run away in panic from every animal. A while ago riding on the tandem a cat sprang into his lap. He didn’t shout, he threw up his hands but not defensively or screaming as he used to. He strokes his therapy horse even if it is dirty and he even scratches out the hooves as if it is a matter of course with him. He dares to lead the horse with its reins, he combs his therapy dog at eye level.

He no longer cries out if it rains, just accepts it. He tries to make himself understood with speech and sign language. Naturally he can lose his temper during such attempts but only because sometimes we do not understand him. He phones us more often and even walks the half kilometer to speech therapy on his own.

As if by coincidence he, when relaxed, forms words that are later no longer possible. We don’t have tantrums at the hairdressers anymore because we now understand that he hates electric cutters but doesn’t mind scissors.

Unfortunately he had a fall and broke part of his incisors and had to be treated under anaesthetic. During this operation catheters were inserted in his ears to drain fluid which later entailed further visits to specialists. Janik also had pneumonia. Such illnesses tend to stagnate his progress. We are, however, still full of hope that Janik, with the help of Splash – he has a photo album of the therapy which he proudly shows all visitors – will be able to improve his speech more intensively and in this way gain more self respect.

Janik has another therapy in Antalya in September 2011 and gets very excited whenever we speak of it. We constantly hope that he will be fit by then and that his ears will not be adversely affected by the water. He has grown and gained weight so he will require a bigger thermo suit.

We also hope that this time the therapy will have no interruptions due to illnesses. There should not be so many problems because in September it won’t be so hot. In June we were really baking!

Again a very special thanks for the personal attention of every single therapist and for the perfect, professional and calm service.

A very happy Christmas to the whole Dolphin team and we wish you lots of further successes and joy with all the children in the new year.

Best wishes and see you all again in good health in 10 months
The Schröder family, Wangen in Allgäu

For dolphin therapy related questions you can contact this family via e-mail: