champs-heart

Vanessa's Story

Tue, 05 May 2026 22:30:18 GMT

Our family relocated from Utah to Idaho Falls just over three years ago. For most children, such a significant move presents its own set of challenges, but for our daughter, Vanessa, who is autistic, the transition was particularly arduous. The disruption to her established routines and the unfamiliarity of a new environment profoundly impacted her well-being, leading to a dramatic escalation in her depression and anxiety, manifesting in severe panic attacks that were heartbreaking to witness.

Adding to Vanessa's struggles, she experienced a profound personal loss. Her beloved maternal grandmother, who had been an integral part of her life and lived with us for many years, saw her health decline. We brought hospice care into our Idaho Falls home, and two years ago, Vanessa's "Grandma" passed away. This bereavement, especially for a child on the autism spectrum who thrives on consistency and deep attachments, was immensely difficult for her to process.

The challenges continued to mount throughout the past year. My husband, Vanessa's father, underwent two significant heart procedures, followed by a diagnosis of bladder cancer in November. This series of medical crises naturally cast a long shadow over our household. In parallel, Vanessa herself faced physical setbacks; she broke her nose during a cheerleading practice, necessitating surgery at the end of last December, and was subsequently diagnosed with multiple allergies and asthma. The cumulative stress and anxiety were so severe that she began experiencing hair loss – a visible manifestation of her internal turmoil.

Vanessa has been a part of the Champ's Heart family for over two years now, and the transformation we've witnessed is nothing short of miraculous. She has developed an extraordinary bond with one of the horses, Rocko. When Vanessa steps into the arena and connects with Rocko, her entire demeanor shifts. Her face, often shadowed by worry, visibly brightens, a genuine smile graces her lips, and a profound sense of peace washes over her. The therapeutic power of these interactions has been instrumental in helping her manage and significantly reduce her anxiety, allowing her to find an inner calm and peace.

Champ's Heart has not just been a program for Vanessa; it has been a game-changer, providing a sanctuary where she can flourish. The joy she experiences during her rides is palpable and deeply moving for us to observe. We are eternally grateful for the sanctuary Champ's Heart provides and for the exceptional dedication and compassion of every single person involved.

Written by Vanessa's mother Veronica

Comfortable, Happy, & Safe

Tue, 05 May 2026 03:08:50 GMT

New Title

“We are so grateful for Champ’s Heart! Our sons have been attending their program for a few months now, and I can’t say enough good things about them. The therapeutic riding has been so soothing and comforting to our boys. The staff are so patient, friendly and so supportive ensuring that our boys are always comfortable, happy and safe!”

— Katherina Collins

Katherina, thank you so much for your kind words. It truly means the world to us to be part of your boys’ journey. Seeing them feel comforted, confident, and happy during their time with us is exactly why we do what we do. We’re so grateful your family is part of the Champ’s Heart!

~Champ's Heart's Team

Kodiak's Friend

Sun, 03 May 2026 22:35:45 GMT

Listen to what this mom says about the effect of Champs Heart in the life of Abigail:

“Abigail Rose at 2 years old on August 10th 2023. First time riding Kodiak. She will be 5 years old May 9th. Kodiak is her favorite horse and only horse she rides at Champs Heart. Kodiak and Champ’s Heart has given her so many amazing memories! We recently built a ramp to make our loading block more accessible for wheelchairs and walkers! The families love it!”

The Smile Factory

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 14:00:17 GMT

At Champs Heart, we do everything we can to start where a child will be comfortable. Sometimes a child is excited about the thought of a horse, but when the time actually comes, they are a little bit reluctant so we want to try to ease them into this. This Equicizer horse I named champ to carry on his legacy even though he passed away in 2018. So we have this mechanical horse that works off of a big spring and can hold up to 600 pounds. Then we have a little electric saddle that simulates the motion of a horse at different speeds that help children with balance, develop core strength and getting comfortable to the movement of a horse. We also try to make this a family experience as much as possible, but that’s becoming harder and harder all the time with so many children wanting to ride. We still do it we can when space allows.

Ashley has been coming to Champs Heart for quite a while and see what her parents have to say:

Meet Leo

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 17:27:35 GMT

Fostering a safe place for children to be themselves in the face of hardship.

Evie's Story

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 16:05:25 GMT

An inspiring story of how healing for one child brought healing for a whole family.

Lexi's Story

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 18:40:37 GMT

A refreshing story of how our horse's brought balance and joy to one child's life.

Stephanie's Story

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 18:40:17 GMT

Transform Lives Today

If you are inspired by this incredible progress and feel as passionate as we do about the power of equine healing in our community, please consider supporting our mission with a monthly gift. Your donation today can help ensure that every child, veteran, and family member who needs our services can access them immediately and at no cost.

Your Impact:

$10 provides an hour long healing session for a child with special needs
$25 Feeds a horse for two weeks
$45 Sponsors Hoof Trimming for one horse
$80 covers an hour long healing session for 8 children with special needs

When you give to Champ's Heart, you're not just supporting a program, you're joining a movement of compassion that creates ripple effects throughout our community. Together, we can ensure that healing, hope, and horses are available to every person who needs them always.

DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE?

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 16:45:23 GMT

Larry challenges you to look beyond what your eyes can see.

Nolan's Story

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 17:00:01 GMT

How can it be that horses can make such a difference! Sometimes you just have to accept things with thankfulness even when you don’t understand! Read what this mother says about Nolan and how life has changed for him because of horse encounters!

“Our family has been truly blessed by Champ’s Heart in ways we have never expected. Our son (Nolan) was non-verbal for several years, he’s on the spectrum and very hyper-active. He’s also struggled to make friends, but he absolutely has seen a world of difference since we’ve been going to Champ’s Heart! It’s not just the horses and how amazing they are but he loves the volunteers! He talks about Champ’s Heart to everyone he meets, he focuses more, and he’s learning to really appreciate routine. He reads the Champ’s Heart book What Can Carter Do? every night and he is so proud to be a part of the Champs Heart family!”

EVERYONE gets to ride!

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 11:00:00 GMT

At Champs Heart, we work hard to always find a way

Finding Their Voice

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 15:42:43 GMT

This story remind us why our no-cost programs are so critical to our participants.

Taynum's Transformation

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 13:23:36 GMT

Tayrum's story of going form a wiggle worm to a calm soul will touch your heart.

Aashvi's Story

Sat, 18 Oct 2025 18:31:59 GMT

Aashvi's story reminds us that patience, compassion and love always wins.

When Life Comes to a Crossroads

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 22:13:14 GMT

In December of 2016, my doctor told me that I had a raging, aggressive prostate cancer and I should start treatment as soon as possible. Guys, don’t let anybody tell you, like I was told, that “Prostate Cancer is no big deal. It is slow growing, and you will die from something else.” That is how I responded to my doctor, and he said, “Well, that’s true for about 80% of men. But you are in the 20% group.” I went and talked to another doctor, showed him my numbers, and he said, “Well, without treatment, statistically this aggressive cancer will kill you in about 18 months.” Prostate Cancer is the second leading killer of men. I questioned both of my doctors because I didn’t feel sick. Two more doctors at Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City confirmed the diagnosis.

So, 2017 was a year of countless trips to Salt Lake City for a surgery they couldn’t complete, the implanting of 44 radioactive seeds in my tumor, and 26 treatments of radiation into my pelvic area which added up to 15,000 rads of radiation.

In January of 2018, I was informed that I was in remission, but the cancer would most likely be back in 5 years. Well, they were spot on. The cancer has returned with spots on my lung, close to my heart, as well as my right hip. My medicine is holding it back and thankfully my insurance is paying the $20,000 a month price tag for the medicine.

Up to this time I had been a pastor for 39 years but with the effects of my treatment, I had no energy to return to being a pastor. I was having trouble with my eyesight plus I was struggling with my balance and falling down a lot.

With such life changing news, I never remembering thinking “Why me?” but the question of my life was “What now?” There was no anger at God. Life is just what happens to you when you are in the midst of making other plans. (quote from John Lennon)

So when you get a second chance at starting a new chapter in your life, how do you decide what that second chance will entail?

Well, I loved horses and had a few children with some disabilities in my church who I had brought out to play with my horses. It felt good to see these children forget about their challenges for the moments of time they were encountering the horses. This time was not a burden for me but joy. It was giving my life a new purpose.

Over the next 17 months this would evolve into the starting of a nonprofit my daughter named “Champs Heart”, because Champ was the first horse that I shared with all these children.

So, I am so thankful for a second chance in life. It comes to us in many ways. Some people think of it in terms of retirement. Others a change of jobs. A new marriage. Moving to a new location, etc.

I am 75 years old now, and I have come to believe that how you finish your life is more important than how you start your life. Sure, a lot of starting points shape you and determine so much, but you also have to decide how you are going to use your past to live in the present and shape your future. In any sporting event, the score at the end is always the most important thing, right?

What will you do with your second chances, however many you get? Consider the passion you have in your life. Golf? Horseback riding? Fishing? Hunting? Quilting? Painting? Writing? Wood working? etc. What’s your passion in life? And then think about how you can use that passion to shape another’s life, be a significant change factor in another’s life? Is there some way to pass along your knowledge, your gifts, to another whose life will be significantly shaped by you.

You don’t have to start a nonprofit. That was never a plan for me with my second chance. That was never in the cards. But it seems God had other plans for my second chance. What might his plans for you include as you think about the desires and passions God has planted deep within you. Success in life is good, but I think significance is the most important good. How will you live your life in a significant way?

I would love to hear back from your thoughts on second chances.

Hope you will join me again next week at “Larry’s Hitching Post”

The Braithwaite Story

finance@goharness.com (Laurie Jellison) — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 16:50:54 GMT

“Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside of you that is greater than any obstacle.”

Christian D. Larson

Sometimes, the patrons of Champ’s Heart wonder if they will be judged because their child is receiving services but doesn’t ‘look’ impaired. While it’s true that it can be easy to make judgements based on physical appearance, you will never find the Champ’s Heart family falling into that trap.

At Champ’s Heart, everyone is welcomed, whether their outward appearance tells their story or not. In fact, most days you will find a wide variety of children on site. For some, the reason they are there will be physically obvious; but for others, their need is obscured by a seemingly healthy, mobile body.

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But Larry Cudmore and his staff know that life’s obstacles don’t always show themselves in obvious ways, and that some of the greatest benefits of the program are brought to those who experience unseen internal struggles.

This is true for Grace Braithwaite, who could be a patron but opts to volunteer instead. When you meet Grace, you see a beautiful, gracious, compassionate, and intelligent sixteen-year-old, who is perhaps a little wiser than her years. What you don’t see is the stress, anxiety, and depression that she sometimes feels because of dealing with Celiac and Type 1 Diabetes; autoimmune diseases that can be debilitating, if not managed carefully.

Luckily for Grace, she has found supportive community outlets to help her cope with the stressors of Type 1. She is a member of the Leo’s Club; a youth leadership component of The Rocky Mountain Diabetes Lions Club of Eastern Idaho, and it was through the Leo’s Club that she became involved with Champ’s Heart. She also attends summer camps designed exclusively for Type 1 Diabetics.

Due in part to these support groups, Grace experiences less emotional issues than many of her peers. But there are still days in which she succumbs to the pressures of diabetes.

Grace: “A lot of the other kids have such bad anxiety and depression from it. I’ve got a little bit, but not much. I found that seeing other kids with my problem, and helping them take care of it, helped me a lot. I’ve been diagnosed for six years, so my love-hate relationship with Type 1 is a lot different than some of the other kids. I mean, Type 1 is hard, but it’s weird because I can’t remember a time when I didn’t have it. It was like another life. But there have still been some really low times.”

Managing Type 1 Diabetes is difficult enough, but stressful events also come from external sources. Because people, especially young people, often don’t have a solid understanding of the disease, diabetics are often faced with the daunting (and sometimes embarrassing) task of educating the uneducated. These interactions with people who are uninformed or unintentionally hurtful is yet another layer that creates frustration for people with Type 1.

Grace: “I remember telling this one kid that I had Type 1 and the first question he asked me was if my toes had turned purple. I would just rather not answer those questions.”

Luckily, Grace has found a couple of positive activities to help assuage some of the frustrating components of life with Type 1. Because she gets a great deal of joy from being in service to others, she has gravitated to working with the younger children at camp and volunteering at Champ’s Heart. Both activities have helped Grace put her own issues in perspective. One of the blessings of Champ’s Heart, in particular, is that it gives her the opportunity to step out of her diabetic driven daily grind.

Grace: “It’s just nice to escape it for a bit and not have to be so focused on having to poke your finger. It’s nice just to be around the horses and focus on the kids.”

If we watched Grace at work, we would have no trouble seeing what makes her a great volunteer. It would be obvious that she is a kind, open-minded, skillful handler, and an advocate for the children. Not as obvious but just as important, are the things that would qualify this beautiful young woman to receive services at Champ’s Heart. Although her Diabetes alone would be enough, it is the unseen chronic stress related to her illness coupled with her innate insecurities and introversion that makes her an ideal candidate for this healing equine environment. But because we wouldn’t see the internal issues that call out for attention, we would have no idea that volunteering to help the children of Champ’s Heart is at once altruistic and self-healing for her.

And Grace is certainly not alone. There are many people who can find healing for their unseen needs simply by being immersed in a caring, nonjudgmental moment with horses who know exactly what they need.

Grace: “I have always had a connection with horses. So, the idea of being able to show the other kids that they also can have a connection with horses is so sweet. But I do suffer with depression and anxiety at times, and I am also really introverted. I don’t like being around people in general. But at Champ’s Heart, it’s cool to see the kids because they look up to you. They see you as big and strong because you are leading the horse around, driving the buggy and riding the horse independently. It just feels good. As a volunteer, you can feel good about yourself because you can do all these things and the kids see you as an adult. In some ways, I benefit just like the kids do. The kids don’t know that I have a disability. They just think I’m a cool representative. I’m a cool teenager, I’m a cool adult leading around a horse, right? It’s nice to step out of the diabetes bubble for a little bit. Also, if they don’t know that you have anything going on, there’s a freedom in that. It’s so uplifting because when I’m home, I constantly have people asking me about my blood sugar and this and that related to diabetes. One of the biggest things I’ve learned from Champ’s heart is to look at the child, not their disability. I think that’s a big thing because sometimes people look at the disability and they want to stay away…like they could catch Down’s Syndrome or something. I’ve always understood that; but working at Champ’s Heart has made me see it even more.”

It’s obvious that Grace gains as much from volunteering as the children she serves. She, too, gets a respite from her disability and sees herself in an entirely different light. She witnesses her own confidence and insight expanding in the simple act of volunteering. And just as important are the strides she is making in overcoming her anxiety around people. She just might be on the way to learning that she is a compassionate, capable leader who can choose to expel anxiety from her life.

Grace has six siblings, and she is the only one in her family with diabetes, but she is far from the only one who benefits from Champ’s Heart. Both her mother, Jamie, and three of her six siblings, also play important parts in the Champ’s Heart Family.

I had the pleasure of interviewing a few of her siblings, Emiline, who is Grace’s eleven-year-old sister. Even though the cut-off age for volunteering is 13, her love of horses and her promise to work hard, landed her an exception to the rule. And apparently, she proves every day that she deserves to be there. Ainsley, who is Grace’s fourteen-year-old sister, is a beautiful, well-spoken, old soul kind of child and she is keenly aware of how her contributions positively impact the children she interacts with. And she has a level of passion about being of service that is well beyond her years. She also has a great deal of insight into the fact that, through her volunteerism, she is not only serving but being served as well.

Ainsley: “It’s just an amazing experience to be a volunteer and be around those sweet kids. I also see how amazing it is for the kids and how they love being around the horses, being around Larry, and being able to sit in the buggy or paint the horses. It’s just fantastic. I personally benefit from it too. I have been fortunate in my life because I don’t have Type 1 or anything. I’ve never been in the hospital before, and I’ve never even broken a bone. Because I am so fortunate, I want to help those kids who aren’t as fortunate as I am. It’s my way to serve the world. And I think it’s an amazing way to do it. I also benefit from horses because they’re very gentle and loving creatures, when they aren’t stepping on your feet! They have healing power and are able to serve the kids.”

Grace’s mother, Jamie, rounds out the family picture by being an integral part of the technological and organizational aspects of the program, and she gives many hours of her free time working on the website.

But perhaps one of her most notable contributions, is the effort she put in as the driving force behind getting Champ’s Heart and the Leo’s Club volunteers together.

Jamie: “The reason we started the Rocky Mountain Diabetes Lions & Leo’s Club was to help support our network of Type 1 diabetics here in eastern Idaho. The kids needed to choose leadership opportunities and they decided that they wanted to be around horses. It was just a natural fit for them to go with Larry. It’s kind of a twofold situation because the diabetic kids actually qualify for Larry’s program as patrons. But they are also able-bodied children. I mean, they have a hard life. And it sucks a lot of the time, and they often have multiple diagnoses. But they’re able-bodied children who can apply themselves. If they take care of their diabetes, they can do things like ride horses, and be volunteers. When I told Larry that these kids, who could be patrons, really wanted to participate as volunteers, he put on a training that summer. We had about 25 teens. And they met together for 20 hours, several weeks in a row. It was a lot of hours, and they learned how to do it all.”

Grace and her family are great examples of the many ways in which the horses at Champ’s Heart serve the community. They are also a testament to the fact that, ideally, caring for and serving special needs children takes a village. Many thanks to the Braithwaite family for all they do.

Noah's Story

finance@goharness.com (Laurie Jellison) — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 16:50:54 GMT

Noah was only four weeks old when the doctors thought his life would end. He had been admitted to the hospital experiencing cardiac arrest due to kidney failure and he wasn’t expected to survive the night. But Noah must have had a miracle with his name on it because he not only survived the night, but began making sudden improvements. The hospital staff knew that it would be touch and go for some time, but Noah’s quest for survival had surprised them all.

Unfortunately, due to complications from his resuscitation, he required surgery to remove both of his legs from the knees down. Later, he would also require surgery to remove his kidney and revise his urinary tract.

Because he had suffered so much trauma during a critical time in his development, it was impossible to tell what the long-term effects of his ordeal would be.

Through it all, Addy, a nurse on the hospital’s pediatric ward, found herself inexplicably drawn to this sweet little boy. She kept a watchful eye on him as he laid alone in his hospital bed day after day. When Noah needed an advocate, she stepped up as his foster mom, took him home when he was discharged, and helped him heal and develop during the years that followed.

Addy fostered Noah for three and a half years through healing amputations, helmet therapy for head shaping, multiple surgeries, physical, occupational, and speech therapy, and multiple infections. Social services continued to document that Noah was thriving in Addy’s care. When Social Services terminated Noah’s natural parental rights, Addy stepped up as Noah’s adoptive single mother.

But the toll that those three years took on Addy was significant. She was exhausted. And then a covid-19 pandemic strained the childcare services Addy needed to help provide optimal care to Noah while serving on the frontlines as an emergency room nurse.

She loved Noah dearly and wanted to make sure that he had the best life possible. However, she was quickly realizing that she could not do this by herself. A long friend and fellow nurse, Lydia, invited Addy and Noah to move nearly 2,000 miles to Idaho to help support Addy and Noah in meeting their needs as Noah was now a 40 lbs toddler in need of prosthetics and potty-training assistance. . In many ways, Lydia and Addy played out the real-world version of the saying, “it takes a village…”

Thanks to the village, Noah wasted no time in catching up. He was accepted as a beneficiary of the Jordan Thomas Foundation for prosthetics, which were provided by POA-Orlando. He began learning to walk, talk, and explore his world. He started pre-school and began catching up on his social and academic needs. He started physical therapy to help him navigate his environment and continued speech therapy to advance his verbal skills

But all this learning took focus and Noah needed a happy place to relax and enjoy life. Through riding the horses at Champ’s Heart, he met his favorite horse, Slick. Noah talked about Slick every night before he went to bed and every morning when he woke up. He developed a passion for horses that helped him put all his challenges aside for just a bit. When it comes to the horses, Noah has a bottomless curiosity, and wants to experience everything.

Riding a horse just naturally helps to strengthen a person’s core and their ability to balance. Although Champ’s Heart does not engage in any formal therapy, Addy believes that this natural benefit helps Noah participate in his traditional therapy programs.

Noah’s desire to ride Slick is so strong, that he seems to work harder to use his words. Addy has noticed that he becomes much more talkative when he is with the horses, and he wants to know everything about them.

Addy also notices that Noah wants to watch TV programs and read books about horses, which is the first time she has seen him make these kinds of connections.

Noah is a survivor and a thriver by nature, and Champ’s Heart is helping him find those moments of joy, freedom, and confidence that make his journey just a little easier.

The Conner McCormick Story

finance@goharness.com (Laurie Jellison) — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 16:50:54 GMT

“Autism means I miss what others catch and I catch what others miss.”

Nine-year-old Conner McCormick is a happy, intelligent, sensitive, and generally easy-going child, who has definite opinions about how his world should function. Although Conner is a child who has challenges navigating his world, his mother, Emily, is constantly reminded that the beautiful things about him far outweigh the challenges.

Emily: “Conner just is who he is. I would say his disposition is just happy. He has a quick wit and incredible memorization skills related to things he’s interested in. He’s not shy at all and he’s friendly and good with strangers, That’s actually one thing I’m cautious about. And he’s got quite a sense of humor. He says that he’s a ‘pranking one’. He’ll go tickle my husband and say, “I prank!” But, you know, he’s really pleasant to be around most of the time.”

Conner’s challenges center around the diagnosis of mild to moderate Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Children who have been diagnosed with ASD are often categorized as being emotionally restricted, rigid, and obsessive in their behaviors, activities, and interests. And although that definition does fit Conner’s situation, he is much more than that. The truth is that Conner, and many other people with autism care deeply and truly want to socially interact. They simply lack the ability to spontaneously develop empathic and socially connected behavior. (Lurie Center for Autism, 2020)

The other truth is that Conner, like every other person with autism, is unique. There simply is no such thing as a ‘one definition fits all’ in autism, and to assume so potentially does them a disservice. I believe that the ability of parents to make a positive difference in their child’s life depends partly upon the extent to which they can tap into his or her unique needs and sensitivities.

Emily knows that if she orders Conner’s world in the ways that serve him best, things go pretty smoothly most of the time. And, as you will see, she seems to be especially good at this. She pays close attention to Conner’s behaviors, needs and idiosyncrasies, and works tirelessly to develop strategies that will help him navigate his world with minimal stress.

Emily: “With Conner, I find the most success when life is predictable for him and I give him a heads up about how things are going to go. A lot of his day is just trying to set him up for success by preparing him for things that are coming… even if it’s positive things. For example, we usually go through the drive thru at the bank, but I needed to talk to them in person about canceling a check. I didn’t warn him ahead of time that we were going to go into the bank, and he got very upset because that’s not what we do. Had I told him ahead of time, it would have been fine, but I just didn’t think about it. I remember one time going to the grocery store. I said, ‘we’re not going to buy toys, you know. We can look down the aisles, but we’re not going to buy anything today.’ And then I noticed that there was this cute little clearance Thomas mini toy for 50 cents. And I said, Okay, that’s fine, we can pick that out and Clara (his sister) can get playdough. As we started to leave the toy isle, he says, ‘I have to put it back, I have to put it back’. And I said, ’Well, you can take it or it’s fine to put it back. But then as we started walking away, he said ‘I want it I want it.’ He was confused because I told him he couldn’t have it, but he wanted it. But (in his mind) he wasn’t supposed to have it.”

For many parents, it can sometimes be difficult to discern where a behavior is coming from. Is it a factor of ASD or a behavior that any other child might exhibit? Not knowing can sometimes make it hard to decide how to respond. But even more frustrating are the judgements, advice, and criticisms that come from well-intentioned bystanders.

Emily: “I remember getting to the checkout stand and he was still a little upset. I ended up telling him, ‘I’m not going to give it to you now. We’ll save it for a reward for good behavior later or something.’ He was upset and reaching for the toy and wanting to put it back in the cart. I knew he was just confused, but I remember the cashier saying, ‘Oh, you know, I wouldn’t get him a toy if he’s behaving like that.’ And I thought ‘Ooh, thank you for that opinion.’ But it probably appeared that I was spoiling my child who was acting like a brat. Yeah. So, it can be interesting, you know. I try not to use his autism as an excuse for his behavior, but rather an explanation. I remember one time, we were at Kid’s Town and they have Little Tykes ride along cars that the little kids can ride in. Conner’s not aggressive, but he likes to crash things. He loves to pretend to fall off his scooter and say, ‘Oh, I fell off. I got into an accident.’ He wasn’t aware that he was doing something dangerous, but there was a little girl riding in one of the Little Tikes cars and he tipped it over and she cried.

I apologized, and I was wondering if I should bring up that he’s on the spectrum, or if that just sounds like I’m making excuses. I try and still hold him accountable for his behavior, you know. He has to say he’s sorry, and not do it again. And if he continues it, then we leave.

I try to remember these times when I see other kids acting naughty and their parents are handling it in a different way than I would. Especially now that I have Conner, I try to remember that I don’t know their situation. I think I empathize a little bit more with them…kind of like ‘oh girl, I’ve been there. I understand.”

Conner also struggles with a deficit in communication skills, which is common among children on the spectrum. Initially, it was difficult for him to communicate what he needed, and as he gets older, it continues to be difficult for him to label and verbally articulate his feelings. And because he struggles with perspective, it can also be hard for Emily to know if what he is telling her about his experiences is factual.

Emily: “He was about three or three and a half before he started talking. I remember starting speech therapy through Idaho health and welfare program, when he was 18 months old, and they would come do in home visits. And then by the time he turned three, they helped us transition into doing it through the Katie Beckett program, which is a non-income-based Medicaid, essentially. I remember trying to get him to point at things because not being able to express what he wanted or needed was a big source of frustration for him. Words eventually started coming and then we worked on just building up his vocabulary through play. And now he can speak in sentences really well. He can say things like, Can I have a snack and play a video game?” which is huge. I wasn’t sure he would ever get to that point, and I remember thinking that if he could just say things like chocolate milk or something, it would be so cool.

He still has trouble with communicating and responding to communication. If someone says ‘hi Conner.’ sometimes he’ll say ‘hi’ and sometimes he won’t. I worry that others will perceive him as rude.

I would just like him to be able to tell me things that happened to him throughout the day. And be a little clearer about it.”

Conner also tends to fixate on things that are novel, particularly events that he finds interesting. According to an Autism blog published by The Seattle Children’s Hospital (Aug 28, 2017), “Individuals with autism tend to have brains that think about things over and over. They may fixate on things that they find enjoyable or may get “stuck” trying to finish a task or game. A brain affected by autism tends to be more rigid and “black and white”, so it is hard to be flexible with a number of interests and ways of thinking about things.”

Emily: “He will fixate on things that happened that are of interest to him, even if they happened a long time ago. One time, we brought our bikes to the park. He’s really good at anything physical, and he does an excellent job riding his bike and scooter. We set his bike down and his sister set her bike on top of his. He said, “I’m going to pull them apart.” The reflector that was on his bike got caught and broke in half, and he was so interested in that. Later, he told everyone who passed by that his reflector got broken. Still, every time we pull out his bike, he talks about his reflector being broken.

Another time, I was giving his sister a bath and he was waiting in our bed with his book. He accidentally leaned on the remote and it turned on the TV, and it was really, really loud. He fixates on that and often tells people how he turned on the TV and it was very very loud.”

But like all children, autistic or not, Conner has an ornery side that shows up occasionally, and this may be one of the hardest things for his parents to handle. Children with autism can be easily annoyed and lose their tempers. They aren’t being manipulative or purposefully oppositional, they just have difficulty regulating negative emotional reactions, and are easily triggered by unpleasant events. (Hattisburg Clinic, April 2021).

Emily: “Occasionally, I will do or say something completely ordinary, like, ‘Okay, Conner, it’s time to sit on the potty and go get dressed’. We do this every morning, but a couple of times this year, he said, “I won’t. I won’t go sit on the potty. No potty, no potty, no potty.” I said, ’Okay, but if you don’t sit on the potty, then you won’t be able to ride the bus. You have to sit on the potty if you want to ride the bus. Then he said, ‘I can’t, I can’t, I won’t ride the bus. I won’t sit on the potty.’ At that point, it was not productive and best to just step back for a minute until he calmed down a little bit. I don’t think it’s a bad behavior. I think it’s part of his disability.”

Emily makes dealing with Conner’s autism look easy. She is a sensitive, caring mom, who has altered her world in many ways so that her son can live the best life possible. But even if it was easy (which it isn’t), having a place of respite can do wonders. And that’s where Champ’s Heart enters the picture.

Larry Cudmore, founder of Champ’s Heart, lives just a couple of blocks from the McCormicks and they often watch him drive his horse and buggy through the neighborhood. Emily’s father, who is a retired local news anchor, did a story about Champ’s Heart, and Larry eventually reached out to the family and invited them to let Conner experience the horses.

Demanding schedules and stressors are an everyday part of an autistic child’s world, and programs like Champ’s Heart offer a much-needed respite from the daily grind. But respite isn’t the only gift this program brings to special needs families. It also creates a space that a special needs child can call their own. Although all family members are welcome, Champ’s Heart is a place created for the child.

Having a place to call their own serves a dual purpose. Parents raising special needs children are often plagued by guilt; they either feel bad because their other children don’t get enough attention or because their special needs child doesn’t get to participate in the same events as the rest of the family. For Emily, her angst stemmed from the latter.

Emily: “I had a little bit of mom guilt, you know, because I put my daughter in gymnastics, but then Conner didn’t have anything. I could have signed him up for special needs baseball, but he doesn’t care about that, so he doesn’t want to go to practices. Champ’s Heart is a place just for him.

And at Champ’s Heart, every child feels special from the moment they enter to the moment they say their good-byes.

Emily: “Larry is always there to greet us and to ask Conner what he wants to do that day. We can do whatever we want to do. Sometimes, he’ll ride a horse or ride in the buggy. One time, he rode a horse for about five minutes. He only wanted to do two laps around and then he wanted to play on the toys. They have these Little Tyke ride along horsey toys and there is a nice dirt pile with a lot of rocks in it. He just wanted to stand on that and feel the dirt for a while. And the great thing is that he can do that, and that’s fine. We donate to Champ’s Heart, but I don’t feel any obligation to pay, so I’m not feeling like it’s a waste of time and money if he’s not interacting with the horses the whole time.”

At Champ’s Heart, we come and there are no expectations. They can paint on the horses, feed the horses or they can brush them. They can also leave the horses to go play with the toys or in the dirt pile. And it’s fine. And Clara can come with us and she can participate too. Going there is never stressful for me and it’s something we can all do together, and that’s something that is usually hard to do.

Every time I would take Clara to gymnastics, Conner would want to go and play on the stuff, but he couldn’t. And I wanted to put Clara in group swim lessons, but they didn’t have any private lessons for Conner. I couldn’t take her to swim lessons and make him watch her get in the pool when he couldn’t go.”

Champ’s Heart is a place for the family to share positive experiences and for Conner to feel free to take control of his environment, even if it’s just for a while. Emily gets to relax her need to be constantly on point and rest in the knowledge that the staff at Champ’s Heart can see to Conner’s every need. Those two things would be enough, but Emily routinely gets an opportunity to participate in her own version of freedom from the demands of daily life.

Emily: “I used to ride horses and I owned one when I was a teenager. So, Larry lets me ride too. I can go off on my own and ride and I don’t have to worry about watching Conner to make sure he’s okay. I don’t feel bad about doing it at all because all of the volunteers are there to help.”

The McCormicks feel blessed to be a part of the Champ’s Heart program, and they are a testament to the fact that at Champ’s Heart, the only thing that matters is that everyone who attends feels embraced by the love and respect they have to offer.

2021 Concert Highlights

Fri, 23 Jul 2021 17:33:50 GMT