Nico Herrmann

Posted by: Family Herrmann

Therapy Report Nico Herrmann

We were able to visit the Dolphin Therapy Centre in Antalya for a second time this year.We knew beforehand that the Therapy Centre had to move and we were very interested to see what changes had been made. At last the time had arrived and on 16.06.2008 we made an early morning start from Cologne to Dalaman. As on our previous visit a Transfer was awaiting us at the airport to take us to the hotel.

This time our hotel was directly in Antalya which was an advantage for us, however our hotel was in the middle of a large hotel complex which was lively and loud. Our hotel was the ‘Caprice Beach’, a very pleasant family hotel with its own beach and comfortable family rooms. Unfortunately one could enter the pool only by ladder and one couldn’t reach the beach with a wheelchair. The hotel is good for slightly disabled children and the personnel are very friendly and helpful, the food is very good too.

As one can choose between several hotels there is bound to be one that is more suitable for disabled persons and that can cope with the more heavily disabled.

As our visit was only just beginning we were not too put out to find we had chosen the wrong hotel. It would be important for our Travel Agency ‘Megasport Reisen’ to research the hotels better so that the families can be made a more suitable offer according to their needs.

The Dolphin Therapy was set apart from the hotel.

We we were happy to see our therapy team, and they were happy to see us too. Nico’s therapist, Barbara, who I knew from our previous visit, was pleased to see Nico again. They got on together very well. Barbara noticed that Nico had made a lot of progress in the meantime. This time Nico was in the water quickly and entered into the spirit of things a lot better than previously. It gave me a great lift to see what fun he had.

Unfortunately Nico’s dolphin Daisy was ill and we were worried about her. This time Nico worked with Frosia, another dolphin. Frosia was lots of fun and could do many tricks and won Nico’s heart.

Nico was straightaway friends with Barbara and was inspired by her. Nico had never talked so much as this year, as soon as he was in the water he was talking and laughing. He had a lot of fun swimming with Frosia which guaranteed his laughter. The other therapies, riding and Cranio, went, as on our previous visit, exceptionally well. The splendid Dorntal Ranch and the old team awaited us for the riding. Here also some changes had been made. e.g. the riding area now has a roof to protect the children from the sun. Like last time we were impressed with the way Salis and Filis handled the children. Here also the children are required to work, according to their disabilities.

Naturally they also have fun and are also allowed, once, to do as they wish. Nico was delighted when he could ‘gallop’. The Cranio therapy allowed the children to relax. This time Nico had a different therapist. Her name is Birgit and in her quiet way got on well with Nico.

After a long talk with Axel Linke we understood why the Therapy Centre had to change location and we were quite moved. It is sad that there always has to be intolerant people. It is fascinating for us how such a therapy can change disabled children, how much joy it can give to the children. Unfortunately there are people who curtail their holiday to save themselves the sight of disabled children. It’s a shame they couldn’t hear the laughter of our son.

We had a great time with the dolphins and we hope we will be able to come again with Nico. Although it wasn’t the same as on our previous visit, the team does its utmost to see that the families stay is as pleasant as possible. Now that the families stay in several Hotels this makes contact between the families more difficult. But there are plans being made. Axel is trying to acquire a beach just for the therapy families, which we would be pleased about.

Thanks to the whole team who helped to make our stay so pleasurable. It was an unforgettable time for our son. Thanks also to ‘Ein Herz für Kinder’ who helped us with the costs, and also thanks to Herr Wiengarn at the ‘Megasport’ travel agency for his super organization.

Many, many thanks

the Herrmann family

For dolphin therapy related questions you can contact family Herrmann via email: